Melissa Sawyer is a native of Edmond, Oklahoma and has taught middle school, high school, and collegiate band programs in Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, and New Mexico. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Arts in Wind Conducting from New Mexico State University. Sawyer served as Assistant Director of Bands at New Mexico State University where she was assistant director of the New Mexico Marching Band and Symphonic Band. Completing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at the University of Kansas, she currently serves as Director of Athletic Bands/Assistant Professor of Music at Benedictine College where she directs all athletic bands, conducts the Symphonic Band, and serves as Music Education Coordinator for the BC Music Department.