Retired Director of Jazz Studies
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (Jacksonville, FL)
St. Johns, FL
Don Zentz is recently retired after 41 years of teaching instrumental music at all levels in education. An honor graduate of Valdosta State University, Don began his teaching career in Georgia as a high school and middle school band director. In 1987, Don and his wife Laurie moved to Jacksonville, Florida when he was hired as the Director of Bands at Wolfson Senior High School. Two years later, he was hired at the University of North Florida (UNF) by jazz program founder Rich Matteson. Don held additional collegiate posts over time at Florida Community College at Jacksonville and Valdosta State University. He spent a dozen years at The Bolles School as the Director of Fine & Performing Arts and finished his career with an acclaimed run at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
Don is demand as a clinician, performer, adjudicator, and honor band director in both traditional and jazz idioms. For over 20 years, he was a per service saxophonist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and remains very active in playing the off-Broadway shows that travel through the southeastern region. Don has been a Keilwerth Saxophones artist since 1995. He has directed the all-state jazz bands of Florida (HS & MS), Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, and Maine (2x), and the Delaware All-State Symphonic Band. His district and county honor band directing is extensive. Through the 1990’s, Don was chosen by the Georgia Dept. of Education to teach in the six-week summer Governors Honors Program where he oversaw the jazz division, co-conducted the wind ensemble, and served as music department chair. His high school and collegiate ensembles have performed at national events that include Midwest, IAJE, JEN, Swing Central (winner), National Jazz Festival (winner), Music for All, CBDNA, Western International Band Clinic, Basically Basie Heritage Festival (winner), National Collegiate Jazz Festival (winner), North American Saxophone Alliance, and the Notre Dame Jazz Festival (winner). Don was elected to the Board of Directors for The Midwest Clinic in 2023, JEN’s John LaPorta Jazz Educator Award in 2024, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame in 2022, the National Jazz Festival’s “Jazz Educator of the Year” in 2022, DownBeat Magazine’s Jazz Education Achievement Award in 1999, the Florida Board of Regents TIP Award for Teaching Excellence in 1998, UNF’S Outstanding Undergraduate Professor Award in 1996, and just recently was awarded the 2025 Arts Educator Award by Jacksonville’s Cultural Council “…in recognition of significant contributions in celebrating arts education in the First Coast region for almost four decades.” He is a member of the honorary band director fraternity, Phi Beta Mu.
Don and his wife Laurie, a recently retired middle school band director, have been married for 40 years. They have two daughters, Danielle and Andrea. Both are teachers! Don credits his career successes to his mentors – Bob Greenhaw, Rich Matteson, Joe David – and to his loving wife Laurie who has always been his stanchion of support, encouragement, and reassurance.
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A Prescription for Success: Factors Determining Jazz Ensemble Excellence
Thursday, January 8, 2026
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM CST
