Biography

Zachary Edwards is a DMA student at the University of Houston, pursuing a major in music education with a minor in applied percussion. At UH, he has served as both a teaching assistant and an adjunct instructor in music education. Zach is also an adjunct instructor at San Jacinto College, where he has taught percussion lessons and dual-credit courses in music. Previously, he spent seven years at KIPP CONNECT Primary School as a general music teacher, choir director, and Orff ensemble director. During his time with KIPP, he also served as the primary music regional content lead for KIPP Texas-Houston and contributed to the development of student growth and achievement assessments for KIPP Texas.

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Zach holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas A&M University-Commerce, graduating cum laude with honors, and a master’s degree in music education from Tarleton State University, where he was recognized as the Fine Arts Department's Outstanding Graduate Student. He is the state director of NAfME-Texas (the Texas chapter of the National Association for Music Education) and previously held roles as treasurer and member at large for the Texas Gulf Coast Orff Association. Zach is certified in Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk methodologies and has completed Music Learning Theory Elementary General Level 1.

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As a percussionist, Zach teaches and performs throughout the Greater Houston area. He has had the privilege of studying with some of the nation's leading percussionists and timpanists. He is also the owner and mallet-maker of Edwards Mallets, crafting handmade timpani and bass drum mallets used by professionals nationwide.