Summer Symposium 2024
The symposium is an initiative created by some of Kentucky’s leading music educators to provide an affordable learning experience that will benefit current and future music educators in the state. Attendees will have the opportunity to observe clinics held by state and nationally renowned clinicians.
JUNE 20-21
Clinic sessions will deal with current instrumental pedagogical techniques and issues. This year's symposium will be a one day event. Attendees will be able to earn 6 hours of professional development credit and will receive certificates of verification. This year, the event will be held at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, KY
This year’s symposium will feature clinicians Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, Director of Bands at O'Fallon Township HS, and Robert Herrings, Director of Bands at Henry Middle School.
Melissa Gustafson-Hinds
Melissa Gustafson-Hinds is in her sixteenth year as Director of Bands O’Fallon Township High School in O’Fallon, Illinois. In addition to her teaching duties at O’Fallon Township High School, Dr. Gustafson-Hinds serves as Performing Arts Department Chair at OTHS and serves as the Illinois Music Educators Association, Band Division President. Melissa was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association in 2024
In her time at OTHS, she has brought the band program to new heights in music excellence and has recently earned the honor of the Sudler Flag (2023) for the OTHS Band Program. Under her direction, the OTHS Marching Panthers have been consistent Bands of America (BOA) Regional and Super Regional finalists, Grand National Semi-Finalists, and a Grand National Finalist in 2018. In 2015 and 2022 the band marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and in 2018 the band marched in the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California. The Marching Panthers will be performing in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The concert ensembles performed at Carnegie Hall in May 2014, and the Wind Ensemble has performed at the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, Music for All National Festival, ILMEA State Convention, and the Midwest Clinic. In 2019, O’Fallon Township was honored with the NBA Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award and two Music for All Advocacy Awards.
Dr. Gustafson-Hinds is originally from Monmouth, Illinois. She attended Illinois State University, earning a Bachelor’s in music education and graduated with University Honors. Dr. Gustafson-Hinds earned her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2000, an educational leadership endorsement from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and her Doctorate Degree in Teaching and Learning, with an Emphasis in Music, from the University of Missouri St. Louis in 2010. She has been teaching in Illinois public schools for 30 years, getting her start in the Unit 5 District in Normal, Illinois, with teachers who helped guide her career.
Dr. Gustafson-Hinds is married to Evan Hinds, who is a music arranger and drill writer and additionally serves as a Percussion Instructor/Arranger for the Marching Panthers of O’Fallon Township High School. Together they have a daughter named Evelyn, who is eight.
Robert Herrings III
Robert Tyrome Herrings III is in his nineteenth year of teaching and has been teaching at Artie Henry Middle School in Leander ISD since 2004. Prior to coming to Leander ISD, he was the Director of Bands at Rockdale Junior High in Rockdale, Texas.
In 2003, Mr. Herrings received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he studied under Michael Haithcock, Jeff Grogan, Dr. Kevin Sedatole and Barry Hopper. While in college, Mr. Herrings was a member of the Baylor University performing wind bands, as well as a member of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band.
At Henry Middle School, Mr. Herrings conducts the Honors Band, and assists with the Symphonic Band and Concert Band. He also teaches beginning clarinet, horn and trumpet. Mr. Herrings’ bands have consistently received UIL Sweepstakes ratings, as well as unanimous first division ratings, Best In Class, and Overall Outstanding Band honors at festivals around the state. From 2009-2022, the program at Henry earned distinction as a National Wind Band Honors Class AA winner, and in 2008 and 2013, the Henry Middle School Honors Band was selected to perform at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. The program was named the 2010, 2014 and 2018 TMEA Class CCC Honor Band and was also selected to perform at the 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2022 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In June 2011, Mr. Herrings and the program were awarded the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup Award, and in July of the same year, Mr. Herrings was named the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year. In May of 2014, the Texas Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association awarded the Outstanding Band Program Award to the Artie Henry MS Band Program, and in November of the same year, the Henry MS Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2018, the Henry MS Band Program was selected as the Texas Bandmasters Association Exemplary Middle School Band Award winner. Most recently, the program at Henry MS was the recipient of the National Band Association's Programs of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award.
An active clinician and adjudicator around the state, Mr. Herrings is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association as well as an educational consultant for the Conn-Selmer Division of Education. Mr. Herrings also serves as the TMEA Region 32 Middle School Band Chair, as well as the Region 32 TBA representative. He is honored to be a member of Phi Beta Mu and a mentor to new-to-profession teachers at Henry Middle School.
Mr. Herrings enjoys motivating young musicians to achieve the highest level of performance by sharing his extreme love and passion for music with them on a daily basis. He feels honored, privileged and extremely blessed to have a loving mother and grandmother, many great mentors, band directors and close friends who have influenced his career thus far.
Above all, his students have been his greatest inspiration!
LOCATION
Paul Laurence Dunbar
1600 Man O'War Blvd
Lexington, KY 40513
COST
$45 for Band Directors
$25 for College Students