P. David Visnaw II

Lecturer, Music
[email protected]

P. David Visnaw II, former instrumental music director at Anchor Bay High School in New Baltimore, Mich., and MSBOA Emeritus, received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Michigan State University, a Master of Educational Leadership from Saginaw Valley State University, and a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Michigan State University. He currently performs with area jazz ensembles and community bands, is a clinician and adjudicator, and has been a private saxophone instructor for over 30 years.

During his 26 years of teaching instrumental music in the Anchor Bay School District, Mr. Visnaw served as the director of the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, 9th Grade Bands, and Musical Pit Orchestra at Anchor Bay High School. The Marching and Concert Bands have performed in Toronto, St. Louis, New York, and at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and the school’s Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble performed at the annual Michigan Music Conference on multiple occasions. During his tenure, the Anchor Bay High School Jazz Ensemble was recognized as one of the best in the state with numerous performances at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, top honors at the CMU Jazz Weekend, and consistent First Division ratings at the MSBOA State Jazz Festival. The overall Anchor Bay School District Music Program was recognized as one of the “Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America” by the American Music Conference in 2006 and the “Award of Distinction” by the American School Band Director’s Association in 2015.

In 1999, Mr. Visnaw was twice recognized for excellence in teaching by receiving the Macomb Country “Teacher of the Week” award from the Detroit News, and the WDIV High School “Teacher of the Year” award from the Anchor Bay School District. Mr. Visnaw has been a guest conductor of various middle school and high school honors bands and jazz ensembles. He has also served as vice-president of Marching Band as well as Band & Orchestra Activities for the MSBOA District XVI. In 2003, Mr. Visnaw was honored by being inducted as a member into the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) and was the District XVI Teacher of the Year for the 2008-2009 school year.

Currently, Mr. Visnaw is a guest clinician at local schools and music education lecturer at Oakland University where he is also the director of the Golden Grizzlies Band. He lives in the metro-Detroit area with his wife, Stefanie, and their three children.