Zachary Hunter Giddings

Zachary Giddings is currently in his ninth year of band directing and is in his third year at Ecker Hill Middle School. Mr. Giddings teaches over 220 students in the 7th grade Concert Band, 7th Grade Honor Band, 7th Grade Percussion Ensemble, 6th Grade Beginning Bands, and the Ecker Hill Jazz Band. The Ecker Hill Band consistently earns superior ratings and first place in festivals attended and performed for the first time in school history at the 2023 UMEA State Junior High Band Festival.

Prior to Ecker Hill, Mr. Giddings taught in Murray City School District and Canyons School District, where his ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at Region and State Festivals. His bands at Riverview Junior High and Draper Park Middle School performed in the Utah Music Educators Association State Band Festival for the first time in each schools’ history. In 2015 Mr. Giddings graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Music Education from The University of Utah, and in 2020 he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Music Degree in Saxophone Performance and was a Graduate Assistant for the Wind Ensemble. Mr. Giddings was a member of the University of Utah Wind Ensemble for six years and was the saxophone section leader for three of those years. Mr. Giddings was fortunate to learn and study with Dr. Mark Ely, Scott Hagen, Dr. Randal Clark, and many other esteemed faculty.

Mr. Giddings is an active performer in Salt Lake and Summit Counties and proudly holds a spot in the Utah Wind Symphony, a professional wind band located in Salt Lake Valley. Mr. Giddings’ Saxophone Studio has produced several students who have performed in the UMEA All-State Bands and received many superior ratings at the UMEA State Solo/Ensemble Festival.

Mr. Giddings’ professional memberships include the Utah Music Educators Association and the Utah Bandmasters Association. Mr. Giddings has served as the UMEA State High School Jazz Band Festival Manager, the Vice President of Junior High, and is currently the UMEA State Junior High Band Festival Manager and the UBA President-Elect.

Mr. Giddings lives in West Valley City with his husband, Curtis Black, who is Director of Instrumental Music at Highland High School, and their two pets, Stripes the Cat and Harvey the Dog.