In the 2008-2009 school year, Dr. Howard Stephens will be starting his 17th year as the Director of Instrumental Music at Trabuco Hills High School and his 29th year of teaching music. His educational background includes Bachelor of Music and Music Education work at The Ohio State University, Master of Music work (in Clarinet Performance, Conducting, and Music Education) at West Virginia University, and Doctoral of Musical Arts work (in Music Education, Clarinet Performance, and Music History) at The University of Southern California.

     As a performer he was a member of the Marion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, the Ohio State University Marching Band, was principal clarinetist of the Scarlet and the Gray Concert Bands at Ohio State and played E flat Clarinet in the OSU Concert Band, Co-principal clarinetist in the West Virginia University Wind Symphony, and principal clarinet in the University of Southern California Community Concert Band and Community Orchestra.

     His teaching experience includes 3 years at Macomber –Whitney High School (Band & Choir), 2 years at Edward Drummond Libbey High School (Choir), and 4 years at Morrison R. Waite High School (band & choir) all in Toledo, Ohio, 1 year as a consultant for the West Virginia Mountaineer Marching Band and Student Teacher supervisor, 2 years as Assistant Director of the University of Southern California Community Band, Assistant Lecturer at The University of Southern California, 1 year at Huntington Beach High School, Adjunct Professor of Music at El Camino College, and Saddleback College. Other experiences at the high school level include 17 years of coaching girl's and boy's basketball and volleyball at the varsity level at Macomber-Whitney, Libbey, Waite, and Trabuco Hills High Schools.

     Howard Stephens is a member of the Music Educator’s National Conference (MENC), California Music Educators Association (CMEA), Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA). Texas Orchestra Directors (TODA), Kappa Kappa Psi and Mu Phi Epsilon Honorary Music Fraternities

     In his free time when he is not teaching private students, traveling around the country judging marching band, concert band, and color guard competitions or festivals, or attending and presenting at conferences, you may find him at a bowling alley, playing in the Orange County Players Quintet, trying new experiences, meeting people, or socializing with THHS music boosters having fun.