Associate Director of Bands
Savannah Starks
Associate Director of Bands
at Beechwood Since 2022
savannah.starks@beechwood.kyschools.us
859-331-1220 ext. 5182
Savannah Starks has been the Associate Director of Bands at Beechwood Independent Schools since 2022. During Ms. Starks' time at Beechwood, the middle and high school concert bands have earned distinguished ratings at each KMEA concert assessment, and they were awarded exemplary awards in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, Ms. Starks served as a guest clinician and conductor for the Quad State Middle School Honor Band Festival at Murray State University. She has also served as the Vice President and Middle School Band Chair of KMEA District 6 since 2023. In 2025, Ms. Starks was awarded the Middle School Teacher of the Year for KMEA District 6.
As the Associate Director, Ms. Starks also teaches the Beechwood Marching Tigers. This group has earned placement in KMEA State Finals each year and were KMEA State Champions in 2023 and 2025. The Marching Tigers were Bands of America Grand National Semifinalists in 2022 and 2023, and in 2022, the Marching Tigers were awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Shield Award.
Outside of teaching, performing continues to be an important part of Ms. Starks’ life. Since 2023, she has been a member of the Cincinnati Wind Band playing clarinet. In 2022, Ms. Starks also completed a month-long orchestra festival with the Prague Summer Nights Music Festival. Involvement in these groups has allowed her to perform in places such as Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Rudolfinum and Estates Theatre in Prague, Czechia, Louisville, Ky for KMEA, and Columbus, Ohio for OMEA.
​
Ms. Starks graduated from the University of Kentucky with two degrees: Music Education and Clarinet Performance. She grew up in Columbia, Kentucky where she was a part of the Adair County Bands. With the marching band, she became a two-time KMEA State Champion and a four-time BOA Class A National Champion. During this time, she was accepted into the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts for Instrumental Music and earned placements in the KMEA All-State Bands four years in a row. Ms. Starks currently resides in Fort Wright, Kentucky.