Sara Pyburn, Class of 2024, has recently accepted a band director position at Umatilla Middle School. She interviewed for this position back in March and was then offered the job in April. 

It has been Pyburn’s dream since her junior year of high school to become a band director and to finally receive an offer is very exciting! At Umatilla Middle School, Pyburn will be directing two Beginning Band classes, a Concert Band, a Symphonic Band, and a Jazz Band. She will also be assisting Mr. Yannick Innis, another Stetson alumnus, as the direct feeder to his program, Umatilla High School.   

Umatilla Middle School is in Umatilla, Florida, located in Lake County. The current numbers for the program is about 58 beginners, 24 students in the Concert Band, 53 in the Symphonic Band, and 21 in the Jazz Band. The school resides in Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) District 19. 

Pyburn’s goal is to grow the program, with having at least 80 beginners, as well as taking her top ensembles to Music Performance Assessments (MPA) and festivals like the Lakeside Jazz Festival. 

Sara Pyburn was a student in the Music Education program and a part of the Clarinet Studio at Stetson University. Throughout her time at Stetson, Pyburn has actively participated in a wide range of ensembles, including the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Clarinet Choir, Saxophone Ensemble, Hatter Band, Pep Band, along with various jazz combos and chamber groups. She gained valuable experience through conducting the Clarinet Choir, Symphonic Band, and Pep Band as a student. She actively teaches around Central Florida, including private lessons, multiple marching band camps, as well as Stetson University’s Clarinet Clinic and Saxophone Workshop. Pyburn’s dedication has been recognized through prestigious awards, including the 2023 Bobby L. Addams Endowed Scholarship and the Betsy Dokken Women in Jazz Scholarship. Notably, she was also named the 2024 Most Outstanding Senior Music Educator in Instrumental Music and inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. She is also a new member of the Southern Winds clarinet section.

Pyburn would like to thank professors Dr. Lynn Musco, Dr. Jessica Speak, Dr. Gregory LeFils, and Dr. John Lychner. She would also like to thank Dr. Douglas Phillips, Mr. Jon Oxford, Mr. John Seth, Mr. Joseph Powell, Mr. David Martin, Mrs. Lauren Martin, Mrs. Rachel Sorenson, Mr. Christian Ricketts, and Mr. Kaleb DuBose. All these individuals played an important role in her growth and development as a musician and music educator.