May 26, 2026
Trevor W. Cardwell has been named the new Murray Middle School Band Director and Murray High School Assistant Band Director.
Cardwell earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Murray State University (MSU) in Spring 2017 and his Master of Music Education/Teacher Leader degree from Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Spring 2024. During his tenure at MSU, Cardwell earned recognitions such as the Murray State Music Department Outstanding Senior of Music and a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study music in Salzburg, Austria. While at WKU, he earned the Robyn, Dean, and Lucile Swanson Scholarship.
Cardwell has been teaching music and band since July 2017, where he was hired by the Russellville Independent School District as Assistant Director of Bands. Cardwell is credited with reviving the defunct choir program and jazz band programs, in addition to directing or assisting the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth grade and high school bands, and also assisted in music preparation for the annual spring musical. During his time as Assistant Director of Bands, the Russellville High School Marching Panther Band earned a fifth-place placement at the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Marching Band Class AA Semifinals in 2019, the highest placement in school history at the time.
Cardwell took over as Head Director of Bands and District Fine Arts Director in July, 2020, overseeing all aspects of the elementary, middle, and high school bands, as well as assisting with all other aspects of arts education when needed. At the time, the marching band enrolled thirty-three students. In 2025, the marching band grew to 81 students.
In 2022, the Russellville High School Marching Panther Band earned fourth place at the KMEA Marching Band Class AA Semifinals, the highest placement in school history, and earned a placement in the KMEA Marching Band Class AA State Finals for the first and only time in school history. Additionally, the middle school and high school bands have earned numerous Distinguished ratings at KMEA District 3 Concert Assessments as well as a Distinguished rating at the 2024 State Assessment at the University of Louisville. Numerous students have also earned placements into KMEA All-District Bands, KMEA All-State Bands, and numerous honor bands in the area. During his tenure, the marching band was also selected to perform both in 2022 and 2026 in the Walt Disney World Imagination Campus Parade at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, respectively. In 2023, Cardwell was selected as the Logan County Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year.
Also, an active member of professional organizations and an active performer and teacher in the community, Cardwell served as the Band Division Chair for District 3 of KMEA from 2023 to 2025. he served as the Band Division Chair for District 3 of KMEA, as well as serve on the State Band Council during that time. He has also been active in the Russellville Arts Council. He also performed as a member of the Southern Kentucky Concert Band, Western Kentucky University Community Band, and the deGraffenried Chorale. He has served as a Mentor Teacher for Russellville Independent Schools and has also assisted in teaching other programs in the local area.
Cardwell is a 2012 graduate of Butler County High School in Morgantown and a 2011 graduate of the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) and the Commonwealth Honors Academy (CHA). Cardwell currently resides in Russellville, Ky., with his wife, Kelsey, their twin daughters, Elouise and Evelynn (Elly and Evvy), and their dog, Toby. #murrayschools
Cardwell earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Murray State University (MSU) in Spring 2017 and his Master of Music Education/Teacher Leader degree from Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Spring 2024. During his tenure at MSU, Cardwell earned recognitions such as the Murray State Music Department Outstanding Senior of Music and a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study music in Salzburg, Austria. While at WKU, he earned the Robyn, Dean, and Lucile Swanson Scholarship.
Cardwell has been teaching music and band since July 2017, where he was hired by the Russellville Independent School District as Assistant Director of Bands. Cardwell is credited with reviving the defunct choir program and jazz band programs, in addition to directing or assisting the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth grade and high school bands, and also assisted in music preparation for the annual spring musical. During his time as Assistant Director of Bands, the Russellville High School Marching Panther Band earned a fifth-place placement at the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) Marching Band Class AA Semifinals in 2019, the highest placement in school history at the time.
Cardwell took over as Head Director of Bands and District Fine Arts Director in July, 2020, overseeing all aspects of the elementary, middle, and high school bands, as well as assisting with all other aspects of arts education when needed. At the time, the marching band enrolled thirty-three students. In 2025, the marching band grew to 81 students.
In 2022, the Russellville High School Marching Panther Band earned fourth place at the KMEA Marching Band Class AA Semifinals, the highest placement in school history, and earned a placement in the KMEA Marching Band Class AA State Finals for the first and only time in school history. Additionally, the middle school and high school bands have earned numerous Distinguished ratings at KMEA District 3 Concert Assessments as well as a Distinguished rating at the 2024 State Assessment at the University of Louisville. Numerous students have also earned placements into KMEA All-District Bands, KMEA All-State Bands, and numerous honor bands in the area. During his tenure, the marching band was also selected to perform both in 2022 and 2026 in the Walt Disney World Imagination Campus Parade at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, respectively. In 2023, Cardwell was selected as the Logan County Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year.
Also, an active member of professional organizations and an active performer and teacher in the community, Cardwell served as the Band Division Chair for District 3 of KMEA from 2023 to 2025. he served as the Band Division Chair for District 3 of KMEA, as well as serve on the State Band Council during that time. He has also been active in the Russellville Arts Council. He also performed as a member of the Southern Kentucky Concert Band, Western Kentucky University Community Band, and the deGraffenried Chorale. He has served as a Mentor Teacher for Russellville Independent Schools and has also assisted in teaching other programs in the local area.
Cardwell is a 2012 graduate of Butler County High School in Morgantown and a 2011 graduate of the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) and the Commonwealth Honors Academy (CHA). Cardwell currently resides in Russellville, Ky., with his wife, Kelsey, their twin daughters, Elouise and Evelynn (Elly and Evvy), and their dog, Toby. #murrayschools