Biography
Jason K. Nitsch was born September 20, 1977 and is a native of Houston, Texas. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the Baylor University School of Music in Waco, TX and a Masters of Music in Music Education from Boston University. During the completion of his studies Jason was a student of Michael Haithcock, Jeffrey Grogan, Jerry Luckhardt, Dr. Patrick Jones and Dr. Larry Vanlandingham.
During his undergraduate studies Jason became quite interested in arranging, and subsequently, formal composition. His initial arrangements were well-received and he soon found himself inundated with requests for custom arrangements. During this time Jason also began composing original works of varied instrumentation, and was encouraged by his professors and colleagues to continue exploring this developing talent.
Mr. Nitsch recorded his first film score in the summer of 2000, "Passing By", a film by David M. Chandler and G. Kent Rabalais. He has had three original compositions selected for Bandworld Magazine’s list of top 100 new publications for band: “Ferris Wheel” (2005), “On the Banks of the River Shannon” (2006) and “American Visions” (2008). Mr. Nitsch's commissions have also been featured at the 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011 Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Conventions in Chicago, Illinois. In 2010 he composed the original score for the film documentary “The Library of the Early Mind,” directed and produced by noted author and filmmaker Edward Delaney and author Steven Withrow. Additionally his music appears on various state prescribed music lists for public school band performance.
Jason's original works, commissions and arrangements include performances with The Chicago Brass Choir; The University of North Texas, Dr. Kevin Chairizzio, Professional Trombonist; Arizona State University; Baylor University; Ithaca College, Mesa State College, The University of Minnesota, Ole Miss University, and Syracuse University. His music has been performed across the United States, Europe, Australia and Canada.
Past and present professional affiliations include the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), a former Resident Member of the Center for the Promotion of Contemporary Composers (CPCC), World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE), Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA), Texas Jazz Educators Association (TJEA) and the Percussive Arts Society (PAS).
Jason is currently published with C. Alan Music Publishers of Greensboro, North Carolina; the FJH Music Company, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Grand Mesa Music Publishers, Grand Junction, Colorado; and TRN Music Publishers, Ruidoso, New Mexico. His original compositions for marching band are published and distributed by Center X Music and David Herring Music.In 2011 his works were selected by Center X Productions and David Herring Music for inclusion in their catalog of original marching band productions. In 2009 he launched Suburban Zombie Music in order to promote and distribute his entire catalogue of compositions.
Although he enjoys the creative outlet available to him through composition, Jason remains committed to his lifelong dream of teaching music. He is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Klein Collins High School in Spring, TX. He comes to this position having taught previously at Deer Park High School in Deer Park, TX and Dulles Middle School and Lake Olympia Middle School, both of which are in the Fort Bend Independent School District in Sugar Land, Texas. In the fall 0f 2011 he returned to his roots when he was selected at the Brass Caption Head of Forte Drum and Bugle Corps in Dallas, Texas.
He currently lives in Spring, Texas with his wife Nicole and daughters Ainsley and Payton.