Zachary J. Harris

Zachary J. Harris taught instrumental music for 38 years in public schools in Mississippi. He is currently a part-time music instructor at William Carey University, where he teaches applied low brass, music education and supervises instrumental student interns. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Harris was Director of Bands for the Gulfport School District, where he oversaw all of the instrumental wind programs for the district.Mr. Harris, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Mississippi Valley State University and his Masters of Music Education from the University of Mississippi. He started his teaching career at Newton High School, where on April 30th, 1991, The Mayor of Newton Terry C. Burton, proclaimed that day to be “Pride of Newton” High School Band Day. He is a member of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association Inc., where he is past president, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the National Federation High School Music Association and Phi Beta Mu where he served on the Executive Board. Mr. Harris has served on regional and state level music committees in Mississippi. He was the Southeastern Representative for the National Federation of State High School Association’s Music Committee from 1997- 2001. Mr. Harris has been a highly sought out guest clinician throughout the region and he has also presented at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference.Zachary is past president from all four districts he has worked. In 2005, Zachary was the guest conductor for the Mississippi All-State Concert Band.

Mr. Harris’ bands have received Superior ratings consistently through the years in marching, sight-reading, and concert.

In 2008, Mr. Harris Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the Mississippi Band Director’s Association State Clinic. The Gulfport Band is the only band to haveperformed for this special occasion twice. Mr. Harris was also named “Administrator of the Year” for the Brookhaven School District in 2002-2003. In 2005 he was selected as Star Teacher for Brookhaven High School. His band was also selected as the featured band for the “Year in Review” with the Mississippi High School Activities Association. In 2011, Mr. Harris was named Band Director of the Year for District and State. In March 2016, his Gulfport Symphonic Band performed at the Music for All National Concert Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana, and his band was the first band from Mississippi to beaccepted to the National Festival. Upon performing his final concert with his symphonic band, the Mayor of Gulfport presented Mr. Harris with a proclamation naming May 1, 2017 as Zachary J. Harris day, for his outstanding service and dedication to the Gulfport School District Band Program. In December 2018, Zachary J. Harris was inducted in the Phi Beta Mu’s Delta Chapter of Mississippi’s Hall of Fame and in 2021, was inducted into the Magnolia Band Directors Association Hall of Fame, and in 2024 was inducted into the Gulf Coast Band Directors Association Hall of Fame.Zachary is married to Sheila and they have two daughters Brianna and Zacharia.

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