Kirt Saville, Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Washburn University conducts the Wind Ensemble and the University Band. Besides being responsible for all band activities at WU, he is the clarinet instructor and serves as the chairman of the department of music. Dr. Saville holds a Doctor of Education from Utah State University, a Master of Music in woodwind performance from North Texas State University, and a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University. Dr. Saville has studied conducting with Eugene Corporon, Mallory Thompson, Frederick Fennell, Larry Rachlef, Allan McMurray, Glenn Price, and Clark Rundell. Under his direction, the Washburn Symphonic Band has twice been invited to perform for the College Band Directors National Association Southwestern Conference, and has been invited in each year of eligibility to perform for the Kansas Music Educators Convention in Wichita, KS. Dr. Saville is a respected clinician and adjudicator throughout the Midwest. He has conducted honor bands in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Utah. Dr. Saville performs with the Washburn University Faculty Woodwind Trio and the Sunflower Music Festival Orchestra. He has also served one year as the "College Representative" to the Kansas Bandmasters Association.

In the Fall of 2004 Dr. Saville was awarded an Academic Sabbatical which took him to Tianjin, in the Peoples Republic of China, where he served as the conductor for the Band and Orchestra programs at the University of Tianjin. While in the Peoples’ Republic of China he was able to conduct research in the band movement within China and was successful in locating a significant body of works for band written by Chinese composers.

Prior to coming to Washburn University, Dr. Saville taught the marching band and woodwinds at Utah State University. Dr. Saville began his career teaching in the public schools for nine years, where he enjoyed a distinguished career in Utah as Director of Bands at Sky View High School and Lehi High School. Under his direction, the Sky View Symphonic Band was selected as the Utah Honor Concert Band for three consecutive years.

For informaton on symphonic band, clarinet study, or the Department of Music at Washburn, please send email to Dr. Saville at kirt.saville@washburn.edu.