
Joseph Nassar, Director of Bands
Joseph Nassar holds a Master of Music (MM) and Bachelor of Music Education (BME) from Louisiana State University, with additional postgraduate studies in Educational Leadership. He is National Board Certified in Early Adolescence/Young Adulthood Instrumental Music and brings extensive expertise to his role as an educator and conductor.
Since 1999, Mr. Nassar has served as Band Director at St. Amant High School in St. Amant, Louisiana, where he conducts the Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. Under his leadership, St. Amant’s concert ensembles have received over one hundred sweepstakes awards at Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) District and State concert festivals. Notably, the Wind Symphony has performed twice at the prestigious National Concert Band Festival in Carnegie Hall and has participated in numerous Music for All Regional Concert Festivals. The ensemble has also been awarded the LMEA “Standard of Excellence Award,” the highest distinction given to a concert band and its director in Louisiana. Mr. Nassar’s tenure has been marked by collaborations with esteemed composers and clinicians, including Frank Ticheli, David Maslanka, David Gillingham, Aaron Perrine, Tim Lautzenheiser, and Richard Saucedo. Additionally, his ensembles have garnered praise from notable leaders in the field, such as H. Robert Reynolds, Charles Peltz, and Craig Kirchhoff.
In addition to his work with concert ensembles, Mr. Nassar has led the St. Amant High Marching Band to numerous achievements, including a Louisiana State Marching Championship, appearances at the Bands of America Super Regional Contest, and performances across the United States. The marching band has earned numerous first-place and grand champion awards, as well as individual caption awards at local, regional, and state competitions.
Mr. Nassar is an active clinician, adjudicator, and consultant for concert and marching bands throughout Louisiana and the southern United States. He also contributes as a marching band drill designer, music arranger, program consultant, and graphic designer. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA), Phi Beta Mu, and the District IV Band Directors Association. He has held significant leadership roles, including two terms as LMEA State Band Division Chairman, Charter Member and Vice-President of the Louisiana Music Adjudicators Association, and President of the LMEA District IV Band Directors Association.
Mr. Nassar has received numerous honors, including recognition by School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” His additional accolades include three Ascension Fund Grants for Teaching Excellence, EATEL’s "Reach a Kid, Teach a Kid" Grant, and induction into Phi Beta Mu, the National Bandmasters Fraternity. As a performer, he has appeared at the 25th Annual International Horn Symposium in Tallahassee, Florida,
Joseph Nassar holds a Master of Music (MM) and Bachelor of Music Education (BME) from Louisiana State University, with additional postgraduate studies in Educational Leadership. He is National Board Certified in Early Adolescence/Young Adulthood Instrumental Music and brings extensive expertise to his role as an educator and conductor.
Since 1999, Mr. Nassar has served as Band Director at St. Amant High School in St. Amant, Louisiana, where he conducts the Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. Under his leadership, St. Amant’s concert ensembles have received over one hundred sweepstakes awards at Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) District and State concert festivals. Notably, the Wind Symphony has performed twice at the prestigious National Concert Band Festival in Carnegie Hall and has participated in numerous Music for All Regional Concert Festivals. The ensemble has also been awarded the LMEA “Standard of Excellence Award,” the highest distinction given to a concert band and its director in Louisiana. Mr. Nassar’s tenure has been marked by collaborations with esteemed composers and clinicians, including Frank Ticheli, David Maslanka, David Gillingham, Aaron Perrine, Tim Lautzenheiser, and Richard Saucedo. Additionally, his ensembles have garnered praise from notable leaders in the field, such as H. Robert Reynolds, Charles Peltz, and Craig Kirchhoff.
In addition to his work with concert ensembles, Mr. Nassar has led the St. Amant High Marching Band to numerous achievements, including a Louisiana State Marching Championship, appearances at the Bands of America Super Regional Contest, and performances across the United States. The marching band has earned numerous first-place and grand champion awards, as well as individual caption awards at local, regional, and state competitions.
Mr. Nassar is an active clinician, adjudicator, and consultant for concert and marching bands throughout Louisiana and the southern United States. He also contributes as a marching band drill designer, music arranger, program consultant, and graphic designer. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA), Phi Beta Mu, and the District IV Band Directors Association. He has held significant leadership roles, including two terms as LMEA State Band Division Chairman, Charter Member and Vice-President of the Louisiana Music Adjudicators Association, and President of the LMEA District IV Band Directors Association.
Mr. Nassar has received numerous honors, including recognition by School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.” His additional accolades include three Ascension Fund Grants for Teaching Excellence, EATEL’s "Reach a Kid, Teach a Kid" Grant, and induction into Phi Beta Mu, the National Bandmasters Fraternity. As a performer, he has appeared at the 25th Annual International Horn Symposium in Tallahassee, Florida,

Andrew Graham, Assistant Director of Bands
Andrew Graham was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1987. He is an Alum of St. Amant Middle School and St. Amant High School, under the direction of Terri Hunter, Craig Millet, and Joseph Nassar, respectively. Mr. Graham earned his Bachelor of Music Education (BME) from Louisiana State University in 2009, having performed in the LSU Tiger Band and Drum Line, the LSU Percussion Ensemble Hamiruge, and the LSU Symphonic Winds and Wind Ensemble. His directors at LSU were Dr. Linda Moorhouse and Mr. Frank Wickes. He has studied percussion with Trae Norsworthy and Dr. Brett W. Dietz.
Mr. Graham served as the Band Director at Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School in Kenner, Louisiana from 2009-2013. There he took his Concert Band to LMEA District Festival every year and to LMEA State Festival in 2012. His groups performed throughout the New Orleans metro area at numerous Mardi Gras parades every year, New Orleans Pelicans games, New Orleans Voodoo Games, and various other festivals and events including the 2011 Sugar Bowl Halftime Show. His groups at Bonnabel HS also performed nationally, having marched in the 2013 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.
In 2013, Mr. Graham accepted the position of Assistant Band Director at his alma mater. He conducts the Symphonic Band, assists with the Marching Band, and works with the Percussion and Color Guard programs. Under his direction the Concert Band and Symphonic Bands have earned numerous sweepstakes awards at LMEA district and state events.
Mr. Graham’s professional affiliations include NAfME, LMEA, PAS, and the District IV Band Director’s Association. He resides in his home town of St. Amant with his wife, Olivia, and their two children, Norah and Myles.
Andrew Graham was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1987. He is an Alum of St. Amant Middle School and St. Amant High School, under the direction of Terri Hunter, Craig Millet, and Joseph Nassar, respectively. Mr. Graham earned his Bachelor of Music Education (BME) from Louisiana State University in 2009, having performed in the LSU Tiger Band and Drum Line, the LSU Percussion Ensemble Hamiruge, and the LSU Symphonic Winds and Wind Ensemble. His directors at LSU were Dr. Linda Moorhouse and Mr. Frank Wickes. He has studied percussion with Trae Norsworthy and Dr. Brett W. Dietz.
Mr. Graham served as the Band Director at Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School in Kenner, Louisiana from 2009-2013. There he took his Concert Band to LMEA District Festival every year and to LMEA State Festival in 2012. His groups performed throughout the New Orleans metro area at numerous Mardi Gras parades every year, New Orleans Pelicans games, New Orleans Voodoo Games, and various other festivals and events including the 2011 Sugar Bowl Halftime Show. His groups at Bonnabel HS also performed nationally, having marched in the 2013 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.
In 2013, Mr. Graham accepted the position of Assistant Band Director at his alma mater. He conducts the Symphonic Band, assists with the Marching Band, and works with the Percussion and Color Guard programs. Under his direction the Concert Band and Symphonic Bands have earned numerous sweepstakes awards at LMEA district and state events.
Mr. Graham’s professional affiliations include NAfME, LMEA, PAS, and the District IV Band Director’s Association. He resides in his home town of St. Amant with his wife, Olivia, and their two children, Norah and Myles.