Gary W. Hill (Locke Township, MI) Professor of Music and Director of Bands Emeritus at Arizona State University, where he taught from 1999 to 2019 — is one of the most sought-after guest conductors and clinicians in the wind band field. As a conductor, his appearances in more than a dozen countries and throughout the United States have included performances with many professional ensembles, numerous college and university wind bands and orchestras, myriad high school and collegiate honor ensembles (including dozens of all-state bands), at The Midwest Clinic, and at World Association of Symphonic Bands & Ensembles conferences. As a clinician, Hill has presented hundreds of workshops on conducting and rehearsal technique for music teachers and conductors of all levels and has worked with thousands of bands and orchestras and their teachers.
Prior to Hill’s appointment at ASU, he was Director of Bands at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music (1986-1999), at East Texas A&M University (1982-1986), and Associate Director of Bands at the University of Colorado Boulder (1980-1982). He also served as Founding Music Director for the Kansas City Youth Wind Ensemble and as conductor of newEar, a professional chamber ensemble devoted to contemporary music. Hill began his teaching career in Michigan, where he was Director of Bands for Traverse City (1977-1980) and West Bloomfield (1974-1977) public schools.
Hill remains active as a guest conductor, teacher, and clinician, and continues to be involved with research concerning the exploration of biochemical reactions spawned by musical processes, the neurobiology of the art and craft of conducting, and the past, present, and future of instrumental music in schools.