Mr. Adam W. Thomas, Director of Bands
Adam Thomas is the Director of Bands at Henderson County High School. A native of Henderson and a graduate of HCHS in 2005, Mr. Thomas attended the University of Louisville, earning a Bachelor of Music Education in 2009 and a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2010. He was named the Outstanding Senior from U of L's School of Music in 2009. This is his sixth year of teaching, his fifth at HCHS, and his fourth as HCHS Director of Bands.
Under his direction, the ensembles of HCHS have earned multiple distinguished ratings on the concert stage and the marching field. The Colonels Brigade and Guard was invited to perform the National Anthem at Busch Stadium prior to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game (before a crowd of almost 45,000) in August of 2014, was invited to march in EPCOT's parade at Disney World, Florida in April 2015, and returned to St. Louis for a second National Anthem performance in July 2016 (for a crowd of nearly 46,000). Early in 2016, he conducted the HCHS Wind Ensemble at the National Memorial Day Concert Series in Washington, D.C., giving performances at the National Air Force Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
Mr. Thomas is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the Kentucky Music Educators Association, serving as the District 2 Band Chair from 2014 to 2016. He was previously published in the Bluegrass Music News, the official publication of the Kentucky Music Educators Association. You can read the article here. He has regularly performed in the clarinet section of the professional ensemble, Chamber Winds Louisville since 2009, including performances at the 2012 KMEA Conference and the 2013 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Thomas has also performed at the Kentucky Derby four times (once with the Queen of England in attendance), the Orange Bowl in Miami, New York City's Madison Square Garden and twice at Carnegie Hall, and in Killarney, Ireland. Mr. Thomas traveled as a staff member with the Kentucky Ambassadors of Music (and six Henderson students) on a 7-country tour of Europe in 2014, and will travel again in 2016. He was appointed a Kentucky Colonel in 2013.
Mr. Thomas has studied under some of the finest music educators in Kentucky, and would like to thank those who have influenced and inspired him the most: Dr. Amy Acklin, Dr. Greg Byrne, Kimcherie Lloyd, Donna Mattingly, Paul Metzger, Brad Rogers, Dr. Frederick Speck, Brandon Stinnett, Dr. Sally Sugg, Dallas and Edie Tidwell, Keith Vincent, and Lois Wiggins. He is also thankful for the support of his parents, Steve and Susan Thomas.
Under his direction, the ensembles of HCHS have earned multiple distinguished ratings on the concert stage and the marching field. The Colonels Brigade and Guard was invited to perform the National Anthem at Busch Stadium prior to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game (before a crowd of almost 45,000) in August of 2014, was invited to march in EPCOT's parade at Disney World, Florida in April 2015, and returned to St. Louis for a second National Anthem performance in July 2016 (for a crowd of nearly 46,000). Early in 2016, he conducted the HCHS Wind Ensemble at the National Memorial Day Concert Series in Washington, D.C., giving performances at the National Air Force Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
Mr. Thomas is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the Kentucky Music Educators Association, serving as the District 2 Band Chair from 2014 to 2016. He was previously published in the Bluegrass Music News, the official publication of the Kentucky Music Educators Association. You can read the article here. He has regularly performed in the clarinet section of the professional ensemble, Chamber Winds Louisville since 2009, including performances at the 2012 KMEA Conference and the 2013 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Thomas has also performed at the Kentucky Derby four times (once with the Queen of England in attendance), the Orange Bowl in Miami, New York City's Madison Square Garden and twice at Carnegie Hall, and in Killarney, Ireland. Mr. Thomas traveled as a staff member with the Kentucky Ambassadors of Music (and six Henderson students) on a 7-country tour of Europe in 2014, and will travel again in 2016. He was appointed a Kentucky Colonel in 2013.
Mr. Thomas has studied under some of the finest music educators in Kentucky, and would like to thank those who have influenced and inspired him the most: Dr. Amy Acklin, Dr. Greg Byrne, Kimcherie Lloyd, Donna Mattingly, Paul Metzger, Brad Rogers, Dr. Frederick Speck, Brandon Stinnett, Dr. Sally Sugg, Dallas and Edie Tidwell, Keith Vincent, and Lois Wiggins. He is also thankful for the support of his parents, Steve and Susan Thomas.
Middle School Bands
Mr. Paul Metzger, South Middle School Director of Bands
Paul Metzger is the band director at Henderson South Middle School and an assistant director at Henderson County High School in Henderson, Kentucky. He has been teaching music for 33 years.
A native of Henderson, his career began in Indiana after graduating from the University of Evansville and Indiana State University. He is active as a guest conductor and judge throughout Kentucky and Indiana, but also has been involved in festivals as far away as Montego Bay, Jamaica and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. In 1999, he was named the Middle School Teacher of the Year for the state of Kentucky, and was given the Citation for Service by KMEA District Two for 2012. He has served as state chairman for Elementary/Middle School KMEA and other district offices. He is a member of NAfME, KMEA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu Fraternities. He recently finished his 2nd year as the director of the Henderson Community Band, which he founded in the summer of 2014.
Besides music, Mr. Metzger enjoys playing golf, time on the beach, being active in local theater productions, and sharing life with his wife of 29 years, Ann.
A native of Henderson, his career began in Indiana after graduating from the University of Evansville and Indiana State University. He is active as a guest conductor and judge throughout Kentucky and Indiana, but also has been involved in festivals as far away as Montego Bay, Jamaica and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. In 1999, he was named the Middle School Teacher of the Year for the state of Kentucky, and was given the Citation for Service by KMEA District Two for 2012. He has served as state chairman for Elementary/Middle School KMEA and other district offices. He is a member of NAfME, KMEA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu Fraternities. He recently finished his 2nd year as the director of the Henderson Community Band, which he founded in the summer of 2014.
Besides music, Mr. Metzger enjoys playing golf, time on the beach, being active in local theater productions, and sharing life with his wife of 29 years, Ann.
Mr. Alex Grimm, North Middle School Director of Bands
Alex Grimm was raised in Madisonville, Kentucky by his parents Ray and Vicki Grimm. In 2008, he graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor of Education in Music Education. Mr. Grimm is currently in his 5th year of teaching at Henderson North Middle School as the band director. In those 5 years, he has been an assistant for the Colonel Brigade and Guard, as well as the Front Ensemble director. He was most recently named a 2011 Henderson County Teacher of the Year.
He loves coming into Henderson everyday to teach the great young adults how to perform and enjoy music!
He loves coming into Henderson everyday to teach the great young adults how to perform and enjoy music!
Percussion Staff
Mary Lynn Williams, Director of Percussion
Cameron Ivie, Percussion Assistant
Scott Dallas, Battery Instructor
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Scott Dallas is presently the Elementary Music teacher at Marrs and West Elementary schools, in Mt. Vernon, IN. While teaching in Mt. Vernon he has served as the Assistant Band Director and Director of the Instrumental Music Department from 2000-2013. Scott also has been teaching percussion privately and performing in the Tri State area for over 30 years and many of his students have gone on to professional music careers of their own around the world.
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Charlie McManus, Percussion Assistant
Nick Warren, Battery Arranger
Color Guard Staff
Kaylen Wettstain, Color Guard and Winter Guard Director
Houston Buchanan, Color Guard Writer and Instructor
Additional Staff
Becca Walker, Woodwind Staff
Jamie Evans, Woodwind Staff
Hannah Corbett, Woodwind and Brass Staff
Noah Peak, Brass Staff
Noah Peak has been the HCHS band camp trumpet instructor since 2014. He is currently a senior at the University of Louisville and a drum major for the Cardinal Marching Band.
David Morton, Brass and Visual Staff
David Morton has been a staff member with the Henderson County High School Band since 2006.
Alan Emerson, Music Arranging
Andrew Miller, Director of Choirs
Private Instructors
Mrs. Cara Dailey, Flute
Mrs. Dailey is the professor of flute at the University of Evansville.
Dr. Ed Lacy, Saxophone and Double Reeds
In 2008, after a teaching career of 48 years, including 41 years at the University of Evansville, Dr. Lacy retired from full-time teaching and continues as adjunct instructor of bassoon. His primary duties included teaching bassoon, saxophone, oboe, jazz, and music theory. He founded the jazz program at UE and directed it for the first 40 years of its existence. He held the position of Oramay Cluthe Eades Distinguished Professor of Music and served as chair of the Department of Music on three occasions for a total of seven and one-half years. A native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, he holds the bachelor of music education degree from Murray State University and the master of music in bassoon and doctor of music in woodwinds from Indiana University.
Dr. Ken Steinsultz, Trombone and Low Brass
Director History
The Henderson County High School Band Program has been blessed with a number of fine directors throughout the years.
Thanks to all these music educators for their impact on the program!
Thanks to all these music educators for their impact on the program!
2017 - Conner Kinmon and Charlie McManus
2016 - 2017 Adam Thomas and Charlie McManus
2015 - 2016 Adam Thomas
2013 - 2015 Adam Thomas and Brandon Etienne
2012 - 2013 Keith Vincent and Adam Thomas
2010 - 2012 Keith Vincent and Paul Metzger
2008 - 2010 Steven Page and Keith Vincent
2006 - 2008 Steven Page
2002 - 2006 Brandon Stinnett
1998 - 2002 Keith Vincent
1982 - 1998 David and Janet Caldwell
2016 - 2017 Adam Thomas and Charlie McManus
2015 - 2016 Adam Thomas
2013 - 2015 Adam Thomas and Brandon Etienne
2012 - 2013 Keith Vincent and Adam Thomas
2010 - 2012 Keith Vincent and Paul Metzger
2008 - 2010 Steven Page and Keith Vincent
2006 - 2008 Steven Page
2002 - 2006 Brandon Stinnett
1998 - 2002 Keith Vincent
1982 - 1998 David and Janet Caldwell
