Our Director

Email: emily_oyan@ccpsnet.net

Ms. Emily M. Oyan, is in her seventeenth year as director of bands for Lloyd C. Bird High School, is a five time honor band director, and has led the Skyhawk Band to fourteen superior ratings at Concert Band Assessment, having not performed two of those years due to Covid-19. Previously, she taught at Bailey Bridge Middle School in Chesterfield County as one of two directors in charge of the band program. While at Bailey Bridge Middle School, she conducted the 7th grade band and the Jazz Band, and was Assistant Band Director for the Manchester High School Lancer Band. Prior to teaching at Bailey Bridge Middle School, she was the director of bands for three years at Nottoway High School in Nottoway, Virginia.

In addition to teaching in public schools, she has maintained a small private lesson studio for seventeen years teaching flute, bassoon, and piano. She graduated from James Madison University in 2002, and received her Master’s in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006.

Ms. Oyan is a founding member of the Commonwealth Winds, and performs regularly as co-principal in the bassoon section. Prior to her daughter’s birth she was principal bassoonist of the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra (2004-2010), performed with the European Wind Ensemble of Richmond (2002 until 2006), and has played flute professionally at local churches for many years.

Ms. Oyan recently was named the 2022 Virginia Commonewealth University School of the Arts Outstanding Music Educator. She was also given the Superintendent’s MERV Award (Making Education Relevant in Virtual Teaching) in 2020 for her virtual performance of In The Hall of the Mountain King. She has been a VBODA Concert Assessment Judge for the past nine years. In 2018 she taught bassoon masterclasses at the James Madison University Summer Band Camp. She also has judged for the Area Band Assessment Festival at West Point High School in 2018 and 2014; has been a guest clinician for multiple bands in the Richmond Metro Area; was a Teacher of the Year Finalist in 2016; and was a clinician for the Tucker Free-For-All Marching Band Exhibition from 2014-2019. In 2017, she guest conducted the District I All-District Concert Band, and guest conducted the Chesterfield County All-County 7th grade band in 2010. She was recently named a Conn-Selmer VIP Band Director. Ms. Oyan is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi: National Honorary Music Fraternity, NAfME, and the Virginia Professional Educators Association.

Ms. Oyan resides in Midlothian with her daughter, Maddie, rescue dog Sydney, puppy Annie, and rescue cat Cora.