TRAVIS J. WELLER (b. 1972) is an active arranger, composer, educator and advocate of music education. He has been the Director of Bands at Mercer Area Middle-Senior High School since August of 1995. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in Tuba and Conducting from Grove City College, and graduated from Duquense University with a Master’s Degree in Music Education. In addition to his teaching duties at Mercer, Travis is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Music Education at Kent State University.
Travis has served as a District President and County Representative for the District 5 Chapter of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Travis is also a member of Phi Beta Mu (Nu Chapter), ASCAP, and the National Band Association.
He has been a guest speaker in music education at various colleges and universities for secondary methods classes and PMEA workshops including Grove City College, Slippery Rock University, Westminster College, and Duquesne University, and presented at the 2009 PMEA State Conference. He has been a guest conductor for the Pittsburgh Diocesan Honor Band, East Stroudsburg Composer Series, and PMEA District 2 Junior High Honors Band.
As a composer, Travis’ pieces are available from AWM Publishing, The FJH Music Company, and Manhattan Beach Music. In 2009, his piece “Journey to the Prairie” received 3rd place in the the 2nd Annual Frank Ticheli Composition Contest. He has received 2 J.W.Pepper Editor’s Choice nominations, 3 pieces have been named to the Bandworld Top 100 list, and is a 2009 ASCAP Plus Award Winner. His pieces for band have been performed by groups ranging from elementary to the collegiate level. Notable performances have been given by Grove City College Wind Ensemble, Westminster College Wind Ensemble, the River City Youth Brass Band (Pittsburgh), the Marks Concert Band (Hermitage, Pa.), The Florida State Summer Wind Ensemble, the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Summer Wind Ensemble, and The VanderCook College Symphonic Band (2009 Midwest Clinic).
Travis resides in Mercer with his wife Beth, their three daughters and a son.