This rehearsal clinic will provide practical information to band directors regarding: building ensemble sound, the establishment of daily fundamentals, developing a variety of articulation, appropriate use of dynamics, establishing melodic and vertical intonation and interpretative ideas.
Andrew Hunter
- Biographical Information
Dr. Andrew Hunter serves as Director of Bands at The University of Texas at El Paso, where he conducts the UTEP Wind Symphony and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting. He is also Artistic Director and Conductor of the El Paso Winds. Previously, he served as UTEP's Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands from 2018–2022. Recognized as a conductor, educator, and advocate for wind band music, Dr. Hunter appears nationally and internationally as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer. Under his leadership, the UTEP Wind Symphony has earned national recognition through invited performances at the 2025 Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the 2026 College Band Directors National Association Southwestern Division Conference. His ensembles have also performed at Carnegie Hall and collaborated with distinguished guest artists from across the musical spectrum. A passionate advocate for music education and artistic excellence, Dr. Hunter's work bridges the commissioning of new music with a deep commitment to the rich traditions of the wind band profession. He has led the commissioning, premiere, and recording of numerous works by composers including Brian Balmages, Mark Camphouse, Juan Pablo Contreras, Nubia Jaime Donjuan, Dennis Llinás, John Mackey, Arturo Márquez, Gabriel Musella, Wayne Oquin, Jake Runestad, Alex Shapiro, and James Stephenson. Through his conducting, teaching, and mentorship, he seeks to cultivate meaningful artistic experiences for young musicians while honoring the repertoire, traditions, and educational values that have shaped generations of band programs. Dr. Hunter is an active contributor to the profession through conference presentations, clinics, and leadership service. He serves on the Board of Directors of the John Philip Sousa Foundation and the National Advisory Board of United Sound. He also maintains memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi (honorary), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (alumni).Prior to joining the faculty at UTEP, Dr. Hunter served on the faculties of the University of Southern Mississippi and Louisiana College and taught in public schools in Louisiana and Georgia. At Southern Miss, he received the Thomas V. Fraschillo Award for Outstanding Musicianship among faculty members, while Louisiana College honored him as Professor of the Year in 2012. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he studied with Dr. Catherine Rand, as well as degrees from Northwestern State University and the University of Tennessee.
Spencer Hile joined the Hersey band program in 2021, and is currently in his eleventh year of teaching. At Hersey, Mr. Hile teaches Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, and the Marching Huskies. Mr. Hile also coordinates all aspects of the Band Program and organizes the annual Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival. He also is the founder and conductor of the Encore Wind Symphony, which is a summer youth honor band composed of students from across McHenry County. Since 2021, Hersey’s concert and jazz ensembles have been fortunate to participate in numerous distinguished performance opportunities, including appearances at the Symphony Center in Chicago, Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival, Illinois Music Educators Conference, Umbria Jazz Festival, Vienne Jazz Festival, and Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2024. Hersey’s Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble I have enjoyed the privilege of collaborating with and premiering new works by Neil Carson, Martha Kato, Janelle Finton, David Gillingham, Benjamin Barker, Aakash Mittal, and Reena Esmail. Mr. Hile’s interest in music began when he was required to join the band for his freshman year at Highland Park High School by his high school band director, Dr. Jim Hile. After the kicking and screaming subsided he discovered a deep appreciation for the most important instrument… Euphonium. In 2016, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Instrumental Music Education. Outside of teaching and music, he is training to run his sixth marathon, planning his next European travel excursion, watching Love is Blind, questioning why he ever became a Chicago Bears fan, and spending time with his wife Hayley.