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Music grad enjoying great success as City View ISD band director
Branson Spencer grew up in Wichita Falls and graduated from City View High School. He was an Air Force kid, as his dad, Steve, was a crew chief for the famous Thunderbirds.
Young Branson wanted to be a pilot. But during his senior year of high school, he decided on a music career, and Midwestern State University gave him a chance to pursue that with a scholarship.
It turned out to be a good move as Spencer graduated from MSU Texas in 2016, and in Fall 2025, his fourth season as City View High School’s band director, the band advanced to the University Interscholastic League state contest. The band finished 19th in Class 3A in their first appearance at state since 2007.
“The experience was really the season as a whole,” Spencer said. “They worked extremely hard all season, and it was a great feeling to be able to see them achieve the goals they set as a group. Seeing their faces light up every time they reached a milestone ending with a state performance at the Alamodome (in San Antonio) was surreal!”
Spencer said his “Papa,” Charles Spencer, had taught him years ago, “If you love what you do, then you’ll never work a day in your life. I took that to heart when I decided music was truly my passion.”
That passion is igniting the love of music and teamwork in high school students. He worked at Holliday High School for six years as the percussion director before taking this position at his high school alma mater.
“There was a good mix of competition, enjoyment, and perseverance from the entire process this year, and I couldn’t be more proud of them!” Spencer said.
He recalls his own experiences as a band member. He said that whether it was at football games, competitions, or eating out on trips, it was just “band nerds being ourselves.” The camaraderie between friends and peers was the best part of it. “I’ve met some of the greatest people through the band,” Spencer said.
At MSU Texas, his favorite events were football games at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, percussion ensemble concerts, and wind ensemble concerts.
Spencer’s favorite instrument is percussion, but he enjoys playing music in general. “Whether I’m playing along with the beginner classes, attempting to play Baritone at Tuba Christmas, or hopping in for a cadence at a football game, I enjoy jamming out in whatever capacity I can!” he said.
His favorite class was marching band/pep band at Midwestern State. “There was nothing better than playing the drum set in D.L. Ligon during an intense basketball game versus West Texas or Tarleton. There were so many M-S-U chants, along with the cheerleaders, that the stadium was almost shaking!”
A favorite spot on campus for Spencer is Akin Auditorium, where one can enjoy a great concert and walk out to see the quad with the fountain or the Fantasy of Lights out front if it’s during the holiday season.
Spencer thanks Matthew Luttrell, Gordon Hicken, and Susan Harvey for having “faith” in him and seeing his potential. “They pushed me to be the best I could be,” he said.
It turned out Spencer wasn’t destined to fly for a living, but his family helped him as he stayed grounded. His parents, Lona McMillin and Steve Spencer, pushed him to pursue his passions and spurred his growth.
“I have always had unwavering support from friends and family through my time at MSU, and as I’ve started my career,” he said. “I owe a lot to them for how I have grown as a person. From the times in college practicing at all hours for every performance, and the way they also supported the long hours as I began my teaching career, will always be something I’m grateful for. I am also very thankful for the amazing support from my mentor teachers, who became great friends, helping me every step of the way.
“And I will say a lot of the things my father taught me from his (pilot) experiences have definitely been something I have adapted to the classroom through discipline and work ethic. There are a lot of parallels between the two!”Related Posts
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