Alexander Austell grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico where he studied privately with his trumpet teacher, Jan MacDonald, and played in band starting in Elementary School all the way through High School. He auditioned for and was accepted into NMMEA All-State ensembles all four years of high school. He also won and performed in a local concerto competition as a senior when he performed the Haydn Trumpet Concerto.
Alex received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of New Mexico in 2016, and right out of college was hired as the Director of Bands at Rio Rancho Middle School. He was there for 5 years before becoming the full-time Associate Director of Bands at Rio Rancho High School where he currently teaches.
Alex is an accomplished trumpet player and has experience playing with the New Mexico Philharmonic and competing in the National Trumpet Competition during his college years.
He also has experience as a guest clinician and adjudicator for different band programs and districts across the state.
Mr. Austell served as the NMMEA District VI Vice President for Band for two years starting in 2017, and because of increased enrollment helped usher the creation of an additional ensemble for the Honor Band Festival in the Fall of 2018. Alex was the Co-Conductor for the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program Junior Orchestra for four years and is finishing his second year as the State Jazz Vice President for the NMMEA Executive Committee.
Throughout his life Alex has had many role models including his amazingly supportive parents who also happen to be educators and musicians. Alex’s most important goal is to inspire his students to be the best version of themselves through music and is happily married to his wife Mary Allison Austell. Together he and his wife both teach music for Rio Rancho Public Schools and enjoy life at home in Rio Rancho with their daughter Alina, son Adam, cat and dog Raya and Holly.
