Mr. Joel Watson began teaching in August of 2010, serving as Muhlenberg South Middle School’s Director of Bands and Associate Director of Bands for Muhlenberg County High School. His responsibilities at South middle include teaching 6th grade beginning band, 7th grade band, 8th grade band, a combined 7th/8th Jazz Band, and three general music classes. The bands and students under his direction have consistently received distinguished ratings at KMEA District 3 Performance Assessment Event. He is a 2005 graduate of Henderson County High School. He received his Bachelor’s of Music Education with high honors in 2009 and his Master of Arts in Teaching in 2010 from the University of Louisville. He was a member of CMENC (chapter president 2007–2009), Golden Key International Honors Society, National Society for Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), the National Dean’s List, the International Trumpet Guild (chapter secretary in 2007), and current member of KMEA, Third District Band Directors Association (served as the Middle School Band Chair and District Band Chair), and NAfME.
Mr. Watson was the trumpet section leader of the Cardinal Marching Band in 2006 and 2007 and was one of the three drum majors for the 2008 season. He also has been a member of the University Wind Ensemble, University Symphony Orchestra, University Jazz Ensemble II, University Symphonic Band (principle trumpet), and the University Trumpet Ensemble. He was awarded the Jim and Carolyn Fern Music Education Scholarship in 2009, the University of Louisville MTNA STAR Award in 2009, and the University of Louisville Music Education award in 2009.
He has served as a staff member for the Kentucky Ambassadors of Music and performs annually with Sacred Winds Ensemble. Mr. Watson currently resides in Greenville, KY with his wife Megan and two daughters Kylie and Emily.