Travis W. Downs graduated from the University of Georgia (UGA) with a bachelor's degree in music education. While there, Mr. Downs was the percussion arranger and instructor for the Redcoat Band. He then earned a Master of Music degree in percussion performance from Louisiana State University (LSU), where he was awarded a graduate assistant position under Director of Bands Frank Wickes.
Before his appointment at North Gwinnett Middle School (NGMS), Mr. Downs was the Director of Bands at Valdosta Middle School (VMS) in Valdosta, Georgia. Ensembles under Mr. Downs's direction have been invited to play at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) In-Service Conference on two occasions, the UGA Midfest in 2012, the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational in the spring of 2012, and were the recipient of the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award for the 2012-2013 school year. The VMS Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the 63rd Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2009, and the NGMS Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2015 Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival, part of the Music for All National Festival presented by Yamaha. The North Gwinnett Middle School Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the GMEA In-Service Conference and the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia State University in 2016. The North Gwinnett Middle School Band Program was also the recipient of the GMEA "Exemplary Performance Award" for the 2014-2015 school year.
Before moving to Valdosta, Mr. Downs was the Assistant Band Director at Tapp Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia for six years. During his tenure there, the Tapp Eighth Grade Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the 2003 UGA Midfest and the 58th Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, and the percussion ensemble was selected to perform at the 2003 GMEA In-Service Conference.
Mr. Downs is a member of the Vic Firth Educational Team. He has served on the percussion staffs for the Carolina Crown and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, and has been a member of the Bluecoats and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Downs has been awarded the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence award on three separate occasions, and also serves on the GMEA All-State Band Committee. Mr. Downs's professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the Georgia Music Educators' Association, Pi Kappa Lamda, and the Percussive Arts Society.
