Ward S. Brannman has been the Director of Bands at Kamiakin Junior High School in the Lake Washington School District since 1986. A Seattle native and current Bothell resident, he is a graduate of the Shoreline School District and a 1985 graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. in Music Education and a Bachelor of Music Degree. While at the U.W., he studied trumpet and jazz studies with Roy Cummings and conducting under Vilem Sokol. He also holds a Master's of Education Degree with a focus on Integrated Arts Education. Mr. Brannman has taught concert groups, jazz studies, conducting, and brass pedagogy and has served as trumpet soloist and guest conductor for local bands and orchestras as well as clinician and adjudicator for concert band and solo/ensemble festivals. Mr. Brannman is listed in several editions of "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" and in 1998, was awarded Washington state’s "Christa McCauliffe Excellence In Education Award" in Olympia. In 2004, he was awarded the Northlake Region’s “Outstanding Music Educator of the Year” in Yakima. In 2004, he was awarded the Northlake Region’s “Outstanding Music Educator of the Year” in Yakima and received the Washington PTA’s Golden Acorn Award in 2007. Brannman has taught elementary and secondary band at Kamiakin Junior High since 1986 where he directs five concert bands, jazz ensemble, and jazz combo. His wife plays viola and they have two daughters; a 10th grader and a college sophomore at CWU majoring in Music Education who plays clarinet.