John Zarco is Director of Instrumental Ensembles and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His responsibilities have included conducting the UTSA Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and University Band, in addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting, wind literature, and music education.

 

Prior to his appointment at UTSA, Dr. Zarco served as Director of Bands at Millersville University in Pennsylvania and as a public school instrumental music teacher at Saratoga High School, in Saratoga, California. He received a D.M.A. in conducting from the University of Minnesota as well as B.M. and M.M. degrees from California State University, Sacramento. Dr. Zarco is a graduate of Vallejo High School and was also a member of the Solano County Honor Band for two years.

 

In addition to his work at the university level, Dr. Zarco is active as a clinician and guest conductor in Texas and throughout the United States. He conducted the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) Symphonic Winds during their inaugural 2014-15 season and collaborated with saxophonist Branford Marsalis. He was on the Executive Board of the Texas Music Educators Conference and is currently the TMEA Region 29 College Division Chair. Dr. Zarco has authored publications in prominent music education resources, including multiple entries in the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. His book, Rehearsing the Band, Volume 3, was released in 2017 and is distributed by Hal Leonard. Dr. Zarco has been awarded honorary memberships in the national organizations of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Sigma Alpha Iota.