Playin' Around With Playbook: Jesse Woolery

Hey everyone! After spreading #joyfuljazz with Denton High School, Sammy and I were eager to interview the band director responsible for it all: Jesse Woolery!.

Jesse Woolery has served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies at Denton High School since 2007. He is the music caption head for the DHS Pride of Bronco Country Marching Band, directs the Symphonic Band, and guides all aspects of the jazz program which includes three full big bands and the newly formed DHS gospel ensemble.

Woolery also is the Founder and Co-Director of the Chet Baker Educational Jazz Festival which is hosted each spring in Denton. As well as UIL success in both concert/ sight-reading and marching band, Mr. Woolery has directed groups from DHS at the Texas Music Educators Convention, Apex Jazz Festival, the University of North Texas Educational Leadership Conference, the Thinline Film Festival, and the Southwestern American Music Therapy Conference.

Additionally, the jazz band has been selected as a main stage performer at the Jazz Education Network Conference, was a national finalist in the Swing Central Jazz Competition in conjunction with the Savannah Music Festival, and was the 2017 national commended winner of the Foundation for Music Education’s Mark of Excellence National Jazz Honors and named the National winners in 2016 and 2018.

We are so thrilled to continue Playbook clinics at Denton High School in the near future!

Enjoy, Trista.