About

Tyler Bouttavong, MM

Trumpet Performer | Teaching Artist | Music Educator

“Make Music Happen & Cause Your Life”

Tyler Bouttavong is a versatile and dedicated music educator and trumpet performer based in Wilmington, Delaware. He currently serves as the Band and Orchestra Director at Newark Charter Intermediate School and previously taught Band and General Music for grades 6–8. Since joining the faculty in 2022, Tyler has been a passionate advocate for accessible and meaningful music education, guiding young students in building their musical confidence, curiosity, and voice.

A classically trained trumpeter, Tyler holds degrees in Trumpet Performance from Middle Tennessee State University (BM) and the University of Delaware (MM). His early career included performing with ensembles such as the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Music City Brass Ensemble, and the Nanjing Hollywood Film Music Orchestra in Nanjing, China. His stylistic range spans orchestral, solo, sacred, rock, pop, and musical theatre settings, with a special love for collaborative and multi-genre projects.

Tyler’s transition from performance to full-time education was sparked during his time as a Brass Teaching Artist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program. This formative experience deepened his desire to build inclusive, student-centered classrooms that honor each learner’s potential—musically and personally. Committed to that mission, he pursued certification through the University of Delaware’s Alternate Routes to Certification (ARTC) program.

In 2024, Tyler was honored with the “Head of School” Award—an acknowledgment of his impact and dedication to students and school culture. That same year, he joined the Board of Directors for the Delaware Music Educators Association as the Technology Representative, where he bridges traditional band pedagogy with modern innovations to elevate music learning across the state.

Outside the school day, Tyler maintains a vibrant private brass studio (MotivatedMusic), provides high brass instruction at Sanford School, and returns annually to lead the trumpet section at Blackman High School’s Marching Band—his alma mater. Through all his roles, he is driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of music, especially for young people navigating questions of identity, confidence, and connection.

Tyler’s teaching philosophy centers on cultivating growth, resilience, and creative expression. He creates spaces where students are encouraged to take musical risks, advocate for themselves, and discover who they are through sound. His work reflects a quiet but powerful commitment to community, authenticity, and the long game of human development through music.