Willard Lacro Named Band Director at SHHS

Shadow Hills High School Announces Appointment of Willard Lacro to Position of Band Director

Willard Lacro has been named band director at Shadow Hills High School, Mary E. B. Perry, public information officer for Desert Sands Unified School District, announced Tuesday.

Lacro has served as the director of bands at Palm Desert Charter Middle School for the past nine years. He oversaw the Marching Panthers, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Cadet Band, Jazz Workshop, Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, Color Guard, and Percussion Ensemble. He also served as the Assistant Director of the Palm Desert High School Marching Aztecs.

Lacro also serves as the logistics coordinator for the California All-State Music Education Conference where he coordinates with multiple music education associations throughout California to plan an annual music education conference that is held in February. He was selected as the 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year for Palm Desert Charter Middle School and the 2015-2016 Middle School Teacher of the Year for Desert Sands Unified School District. 

In 2018, Lacro graduated from Michigan State University with a Master of Music Degree in Music Education. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from California State University East Bay in 2011. He also holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Music from West Valley College as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. His primary instrument is the saxophone and has studied with Jonathan Bautista, Benny Torres, Naoki Taniguchi, and Dann Zinn.

He has taught privately for many years as well as instructed/coached at various schools in the bay area including Lynbrook High School, Independence High School, Hayward High School, Alvarado Middle School, Los Gatos High School, and Amador Valley High School.

Born and raised in the Bay area, he is an avid sports fan and roots for his hometown teams. In is spare time, enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and two dogs. He is excited to be joining the family and community at Shadow Hills High School, according to Perry.