Directors

James M. Sammons
Director of Bands

Mr. James M. Sammons is currently beginning his 30th year as Director of Bands at Vero Beach High School. In his 36 year career as an educator, he has also served as Director of Bands at Goshen High School in Goshen, Alabama and at Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He is a native of Colquitt, Miller County, Georgia where he graduated from Miller County High School in 1972. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Troy State University in 1976 and was a member of the TSU “Sound of the South” Band under the baton of Dr. John M. Long. 

Mr Sammons served as President of the Florida Bandmasters Association from 1996-1998 and is a life member of the FBA. He is also a member of the Florida Music Educators Association, and MENC: National Association for Music Educators.  Mr. Sammons serves as an active adjudicator for state and national festivals, and is frequently a guest conductor and clinician for honor bands at both the state and national level.

Mr Sammons has been recognized as the “Indian River County Teacher of the Year for 1992” and received the Exchange Club “Book of Golden Deeds Award” in 1995.  Both he and his bands have received numerous “Proclamations” by the City of Vero Beach, Indian River County, the Florida Legislature, and Governor’s Office.  He has received the “Citation of Excellence” from the National Band Association and the Southeastern Concert Band Clinic.  Mr. Sammons has been honored with several “Golden Apple” Awards from the Indian River County School Board and the County Association of School Administrators “Best of the Best” Award.  He has also received on several occasions, the “Principal’s Award for Excellence” from Vero Beach High School. 

In addition to being Director of Bands at Vero Beach High School, he is Coordinator of Instrumental Music for Indian River County Schools (south area).  He has been married to Mrs. Priscilla Sammons for the past 11 years.  He has one son, Michael who is 30 years old and a 1998 graduate of Vero Beach High School.  Michael is currently Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

Mr.  Colbert Page Howell, Jr. is the Associate Director of Bands at Vero Beach High School.  Mr. Howell’s duties at Vero Beach High School include team-teaching the symphonic bands, jazz bands, and the Fighting Indians Marching Band.  Mr. Howell also assists in the management and administration of the band program. In addition to Mr. Howell’s duties at Vero Beach High School, he serves as conductor of the Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra and is the founder and conductor of the Treasure Coast Wind Ensemble.

Prior to Vero Beach, Mr. Howell was the director of bands at Graham Middle School in Graham, NC. He earned his BM in Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Master of Music Degree from Louisiana State University. 

Since 1999, Howell has been a rehearsal assistant, musicianship class instructor, head dorm counselor, and conductor at the UNCG Summer Music Camp.  Howell currently serves as Chairman of District 13 of the Florida Bandmasters Association and is a member of the Executive Board. He is a member of MENC, FMEA, FBA, NBA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.