Associate Conductor, Fillmore Wind Band
Growing up in an Air Force family that lived many different places, Avious always found comfort in music. He became a member of his school and church choirs, then joined middle school band as a trumpet player. His experiences in band had 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 made the decision to become a music teacher.
Avious joined the instrumental music staff at Mason in 2008. While at Mason, Avious has taught several ensembles and grade levels, including Concert Bands, Jazz Bands, and serving as caption head for the brass section of the Marching Band. 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, Severance Hall, Music For All’s National Concert Band Festival, appearances in Bands of America Grand National Finals, and an appearance in 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 Masters 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 Symposium held yearly at Ball State University. He serves as Associate Conductor of the Filmore Wind Band, Cincinnati’s official wind band. When Avious isn’t working in the band world, he enjoys working as a professional wedding DJ across the Cincinnati area.