JUSTIN W. LOVE
Director of Bands
Blue Valley West High School
Email: jwlove02@bluevalleyk12.org
Phone: 913-239-3814
Justin Love is in his 26th year of teaching and has served as the Director of Bands at Blue Valley West High School since 2020. At West Justin oversees all aspects of the band program and directs the Wind Ensemble, Red & Silver Brigade Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, and teaches Music Theory. Justin also co-teaches the Concert Band and assists with Symphonic Band.
Prior to arriving at West, Justin taught band for twenty years in the Olathe, De Soto, and Ulysses public school districts in Kansas, and taught two years at the Punahou School in Honolulu Hawaii. Ensembles under Justin’s direction have performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop 4 times, including the Blue Valley West Wind Ensemble in 2023; Olathe North Wind Ensemble in 2016 and 2018; and the Olathe North Jazz Ensemble I in 2016. Additionally, the Olathe North Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in 2017, and at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2015. In 2019 the Punahou Wind Ensemble presented a collaborative concert with the Boston Brass in their first tour to Hawaii. Justin has led performance tours to Texas, Florida, New York, and recently traveled with the Blue Valley West Red and Silver Brigade to perform at the 2023 London New Year’s Day Parade.
Justin received both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Kansas. In 2005, he was recognized as the Kansas Bandmasters Association / Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Band Director. He was also named the De Soto High School Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2004. Justin has served as a guest conductor and adjudicator for music festivals around Kansas and Hawai’i. He was co-conductor of the Shawnee Concert Band for fifteen years.
Justin has served in leadership positions at the district and state level within the Kansas Music Educators Association, Kansas Bandmasters Association, and the O’ahu Band Directors Association. He maintains active memberships in the National Association for Music Education, Kansas Music Educators Association, National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu. He is also a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi. Justin resides in Kansas City, Missouri and keeps busy following the exploits of his children Jordan and MacKinnon.
