Frank Layton , Voice and Trumpet Instructor

Frank Layton brings with him an impressive list of accomplishments. While in the Army, he spent nearly three years with the Army Band at Fort Bliss, Texas, serving first as trumpet section leader and then as band director. 

At the University of Mississippi, Frank earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education. Although majoring in voice, he carried scholarships in trumpet. During his years at Ol’ Miss, Frank was first chair in the jazz band. His interest in jazz also led him to direct a vocal jazz group with a Graduate Assistantship, and was awarded a master’s degree in Choral Conducting.

An enthusiastic teacher, Frank also has plenty of experience teaching privately as well as in school settings. He is presently a Magnet Coordinator at Vine Middle and Austin-East Magnet High Schools, where he works with all the Fine Arts teachers and coordinates special events, such as appearances with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Married, with four children, Frank enjoys teaching adults as well as younger children and will accept voice students as young as age 6, working on basics, including such things as breath support and matching pitches. He enjoys working with all styles including Art Songs, opera, folk and pop, with his admitted favorite genre being jazz. He adds that he likes to occasionally pull out his guitar and “pick and grin” along with students.