Biography
Jim Van Zandt was a successful Texas band director for 34 years (most recently, Westwood High School in Round Rock ISD). He also served as Director of Fine Arts for Round Rock ISD (Texas) for 14 years. Jim’s bands earned Best-in-Class or First Division awards in festivals in Texas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, and California, as well as consistent sweepstakes awards in Texas University Interscholastic League competition.
Jim is the founder and president of Enhance the Arts (www.EnhancetheArts.us). In his role with ETA, he leads a team of experts facilitating interactive and comprehensive fine arts program evaluations, professional development, and clinics. He loves to work with directors and students, and frequently focuses on best practices in rehearsals and instruction, operational efficiency, team synergy, student engagement, development of aligned curriculum, and of course, advocacy (needed now more than ever)!
Jim has been a presenter at the Midwest Clinic, as well as at numerous state professional organization conferences. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician in Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, and Arizona. He is a clinician for Conn-Selmer, as well as for Perform America-Texas (PAT).
Jim is Past President of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and served on the TMEA Executive Board from 1982-1986. He also serves on the Cadre of Trainers for the Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts.
During the 2010-11 school year, Jim was honored by the Texas Music Administrators Conference as “Music Administrator of the Year.” In 2012, Jim received the “Outstanding Music Educator” Award from Section 6 of the National Federation of High Schools.
In 2014, Jim was awarded the “Lifetime Administrator Award” from the Texas Bandmasters Association.
In July of 2016, Jim was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame, sponsored by Phi Beta Mu.
Jim is also the Executive Secretary for Region 26 of the University Interscholastic League (UIL), which manages the state-sponsored music competitions in Band, Choir, and Orchestra in Texas.