Avious Jackson

Growing up in an Air Force family that lived in many different places, Avious always found comfort in music. He became a member of his school and church choirs, then joined his middle school band as a trumpet player. His experiences in the band left deep positive impacts on his life and further cultivated his intense love for music. Driven by a desire to provide the same kind of experiences he was fortunate to have, he decided to become a music educator.

Avious joined the instrumental music staff at Mason City Schools in 2008. While at Mason, Avious has taught several ensembles and grade levels, including Guitar Class, Middle School Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, he serves as caption head for the brass section of the Marching Band, and was appointed as Director of Bands for the 6-12th grade band program in 2023. Before joining the team at Mason, Avious served as Director of Bands and Orchestras at Stebbins High School in Riverside, OH. Memorable highlights for Avious include performances at Carnegie Hall and Severance Hall, as well as appearances at the Music For All National Concert Band Festival and in the Bands of America Grand National Finals. Additionally, Avious has accompanied the marching band in two appearances at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.

Avious received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, OH in 2004. During his time at Miami, he was a member of several ensembles, including Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Brass Choir, and Trumpet Ensemble. The opportunity to study trumpet with Jim Olcott and conducting with Gary Speck helped mold him as a musician. Professors such as Brenda Mitchell and Sam Reynolds inspired his philosophy of music education and helped him understand the importance of teachers and their impact on the world. In 2011, Avious completed a Master's in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.

In addition to his teaching duties at Mason, Avious has served as a clinician with bands across the country. He is also a part of the Marching Band staff at the Music For All Summer Camp held yearly at Ball State University. In 2018 Avious was named Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Wind Band, Cincinnati’s official wind band. When Avious isn’t working in the band world, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Laura, and occasionally serves as a professional wedding DJ in the Cincinnati area.