Meet Our Directors
Matthew J. Seifert, Director of Bands
Matthew J. Seifert is currently the Director of Bands at Mirabeau B. Lamar International Baccalaureate High School in Houston, Texas. He took this post in the summer of 2020. Matthew served seven years as a Commander and Conductor for the United States Air Force Band Program working at Air Education and Training Command Band at Lackland AFB and The United States Air Forces in Europe Band at Sembach Air Base in Germany. He has also served as an Assistant Band Director at Waco High School and John Marshall High School in San Antonio, Texas as well as the Director of Bands at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. Matthew served on the Executive Board of Texas Jazz Educators Association from 2012 to 2020 as Secretary, President and Director and remains a member of its Advisory Board. He is also an outspoken advocate for school safety and has spoken publicly at conventions about his experiences before and after the tragedy at Santa Fe High School.
Born in Dayton, Ohio and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Matthew Seifert graduated from Ball State University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education and a minor in Classic Cultures. While attending Ball State, he played French horn with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, the Anderson Symphony Orchestra, and the Marion Philharmonic. He also marched for The Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and played in the Ball State University Jazz Band. After graduating, Accepted into the graduate wind conducting program at Louisiana State University, he spent two years working with the “Golden Band from Tigerland,” as well as the university’s wind ensemble and concert bands. Matthew graduated with a Master of Music in Wind Conducting in 2000.
Matthew currently lives in League City with his wife Peggy and two daughters. He’s recently finished a book of chamber music and hopes to get it published soon.
Steven O. Scott, Assistant Director of Bands
Steven O. Scott is joining Lamar High School as an Assistant Band Director and Assistant Guitar Director for the 2023-2024 school year. Steven is born and raised in Houston, TX, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from Sam Houston State University. While at SHSU, he studied clarinet with Dr. Patricia Card and studied composition with Dr. Kyle Kindred. Steven was also involved with the SHSU wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. Matthew McInturf, the Bearkat Marching Band, and the Symphony Orchestra.
Shortly after receiving his bachelor’s, he earned a Master's in Music Composition and moved to Los Angeles to start an internship with Timothy Williams, a notable film composer, and orchestrator in the LA area. During this time, Steven was given to opportunity to orchestrate a few projects of his own including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, and TV shows Castle and Timeless, as well as work on the music prep team for several other titles. After a few short years in LA, Steven moved back to Texas to be closer to family and friends, and to pursue a career teaching. His prior teaching positions have been in Waco, Texas City, and finally in Houston. This will be Steven’s sixth year teaching music and second year in Houston ISD. When he is not busy, Steven likes to travel as often as possible and stay up to date on new movie releases.
