Douglas Syme, Music

Doug Syme has been the director of the award winning Milwaukee High School of the Arts jazz program since August 2001. Before accepting the position at MHSA Mr. Syme had been the band director / department chair at Vincent high school, and had taught in the jazz studies and classical guitar department at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Mr. Syme began teaching for the MYSO jazz studies program in the fall of 2004. He has also maintained an active private guitar studio since 1980. Doug holds a BM from Northern Illinois University, an MME from UW Stevens Point, completed his teacher licensure at Alverno College and is currently studying to receive his D.M.A. from Boston University. Since arriving at MHSA Mr. Syme''s groups have earned numerous awards at both the regional and national level and continue to be recognized as some of the top HS jazz groups in the country. In addition to numerous state festivals their travels have included performances at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., the JVC jazz festival in New York, The Berklee College of Music HS jazz festival in Boston Mass., The University of North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison Texas and the IAJE annual conference in New York City.