Payson High School is very excited to announce that we have appointed our new marching band director: Mr. Kevin Dennis. Mr. Dennis comes to us from Juab High School, where he has served as their marching band director and band/music teacher. 

He was raised in Richmond, Virginia and attended Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chester, VA where he graduated in 2010. He was a member of the Skyhawks Marching Band for 4 years and Tuba Section leader his senior year. He was invited to and participated in the Central Virginia Wind Symphony for 2 years while in High School. He attended the Virginia Tech Honor Band in 2008, University of Virginia Marching Honor Band in 2009 and did district band for 3 years. He then served an ecclesiastical mission for his church to Arcadia, California for 2 years, speaking Spanish.

After returning from California, Mr. Dennis went to BYU-Idaho from 2014 to 2019 and graduated with his Bachelor of Music Education degree. He was a student-teacher under John A. Matthews II at Copper Hills High School in the fall of 2019. In the fall of 2020 he started his professional teaching career at Juab High School. When the opportunity to teach at Payson High opened up in 2022, he jumped at the chance. 

Mr. Dennis said, “I am beyond excited to jump into Payson High and become a Lion. I have met many Payson graduates who have said wonderful things about the arts and the support for the arts at Payson High School. I hope to continue to grow and build the Payson arts programs as much as possible for the future. It is my ultimate goal to create an environment for each person who walks through my door to leave with at least some deeper knowledge attained in a comfortable and inviting atmosphere each day. Go Lions!”

Dennis brings with him a deep love for all things music and an enthusiasm that knows no bounds. He will transition to PHS and begin working with our band this summer (2022). Information for students and parents will be forthcoming. 

We wish our outgoing band director, Mr. Pearce Nitta, the very best of success as he enters graduate school in Cincinnati. And we are excited to welcome Mr. Dennis into our Lion family.