Mr. Phillips
Mr. Phillips, Band Teacher
Matthew Phillips, a native of Chesapeake, VA, has been a band teacher at Hugo Owens Middle School since 2010. His responsibilities include teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Bands, as well as leading the Hugo Owens Jazz Band. Before teaching at Hugo Owens Middle School, Mr. Phillips taught for three years at Hickory High School, and two years at Oscar Smith Middle School in Chesapeake, VA.
Like many other local band teachers, Mr. Phillips received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University, and earned his Master's Degree in Secondary Education from Old Dominion University, studying with Jon Wacker, Scott Carter, Christopher Knighten, Dennis Zeisler, and Gregory Hurley.
He performed with the Virginia Wind Symphony from 2005-2022 most notably performing at the Midwest Clinic in 2012.
Mr. Phillips has served as a successful percussion instructor/clinician to many local area school, with multiple seasons of service at Great Bridge, Hickory, and Grassfield High Schools. Earning the respect of his fellow music educators, Mr. Phillips has fulfilled his commitment to serve as The Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Associations District 4 Representative and Chair, serving and representing music educators from Portsmouth, Suffolk, Isle of Wight County, and Chesapeake, VA. Mr. Phillips is currently a member of the NAFME and the NEA. He is also an active adjudicator for a variety of music events.
Mr. Phillips resides in Chesapeake, VA with his wife Amy, and two young children. He is a coach in the competitive travel program for Chesapeake United Soccer Club, and is an avid sports fan. When not teaching band or coaching, he can be found following the Washington Football Team, East Carolina Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Manchester City, and North Carolina Tarheels.
Mrs. Paquette
Mrs. Paquette, Band Teacher
Laura Paquette has been a band teacher at Hugo Owens Middle School since 2018. Prior to that, she taught for eleven years at Oscar Smith Middle School in Chesapeake, VA and two years at Thomas Hunter Middle School in Mathews, VA. Her responsibilities include teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands, as well as teaching the Hugo Owens Jazz Band.
Mrs. Paquette received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Florida State University, and earned her Master's Degree in Music from Virginia Commonwealth University, studying with Dr. Terry Austin, Dr. David Greennagel, Dr. Patrict Dunnigan, and Mr. Patrick Meighan.
She has performed with the Virginia Wind Symphony since 2007, most notably performing at the Midwest Clinic in 2012 and 2017. She is also a member of the NAFME.
Mrs. Paquette lives in Chesapeake, VA with her husband Jason and two young children. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on her Florida State Seminoles, reading, drinking lots of coffee, and seeing live music performances.