Paula Thornton

Paula Thornton has taught for twenty-seven years in the state of Florida. Ms. Thornton is currently the Specialist for Instrumental Music in the Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida.

She spent eleven years as Director of Bands at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida. Ms. Thornton holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, summa cum laude, from Louisiana Tech University and a Master of Music Education Degree with an emphasis in clarinet performance from the University of South Carolina.

Ms. Thornton's teaching responsibilities at Buchholz High School include the direction of three Concert Ensembles, two Jazz Bands, the Percussion Class, and the Golden Regiment Marching Band. Her bands have consistently achieved recognition and accolades at all evaluative and competitive events.

Under Ms. Thornton's direction, the Buchholz High School Band was awarded the Sudler Flag of Honor by the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 2003. The Wind Symphony performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois in December 2002. The band also performed at the College Band Directors National Association and National Band Association Southern Regional Conference in Atlanta, Georgia in February 2002. The Buchholz Golden Regiment performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and on NBC's "Today Show" in November 2000.

Ms. Thornton is President of the Florida Bandmasters Association and has held the position of High School Representative on the board of the National Band Association. She currently serves as the Florida State Chair of the NBA and of the Sousa National High School Honors Band. Ms. Thornton has held the offices of FBA District Chairman and District Secretary, and has been a member of the Sight-Reading Music Committee. She currently is a member of the FBA Music Committee, the FBA Finance Committee, and serves as Chairman of the FBA Clinics Committee. She also serves as a member of the Florida Music Education Association Executive Board. Ms. Thornton was the conductor for the Florida All-State Small School Honor Band in January 2002, and has served as guest conductor/clinician for numerous other Honor Bands.

Ms. Thornton was elected to the American Bandmasters Association in 2004. She was inducted into the Omega Chapter of Phi Beta Mu in 2002. She has received the NBA Citation of Excellence on two occasions, and she was recognized in 2002 as a recipient of the Legion of Honor administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

Ms. Thornton's other professional and honorary affiliations include NBA, FBA, FMEA, MENC, ASBDA, IAJE, WBDI, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Sigma Alpha Iota.