Mr. Joe Sipzner is entering his third year at Downing Middle School in Lewisville ISD, and his seventh year teaching. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, International Society for Music Education, and he currently serves as Region 2 Orchestra Chair-Elect. Recently he has presented professional development clinics at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention and has served as a student teacher mentor for Lewisville ISD.

Native to upstate New York, Mr. Sipzner began playing the violin at age 9. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University, where he was mentored in string pedagogy Dr. Robert Gillespie. He is currently working towards a Master of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas.

Prior to working with the musicians of Downing Middle school, Mr. Sipzner taught in Plano ISD as well as in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, where he received the Elementary Strings New Teacher of the Year Award in 2020 from the Fairfax Orchestra Directors’ Association.

Outside of teaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife, cooking, composing music, and going on walks with their foxhound Tabitha.