Faculty

Dr. Sarah McKoin
Director of Bands

Dr. Sarah McKoin is the Director of Bands at Texas Tech University and Associate Professor of Music as well as Director of the Wind Ensemble at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina. Dr. McKoin conducts the Texas Tech University Wind Ensemble and teaches all levels of conducting and wind literature. She is entering her ninth summer in residence at the Brevard Music Center where she serves on the conducting faculty and conducts the Transylvania Wind Ensemble comprised of college-aged musicians from throughout the country.

Prior to her appointment at Texas Tech, Professor McKoin was the Director of Bands at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and held appointments at the State University of New York at Buffalo and SUNY Fredonia. Her UMKC Wind Symphony was selected as a featured ensemble and performed for the 2005 Missouri Music Educator's National Association Conference. In addition, the Wind Symphony under Dr. McKoin's leadership performed for the College Music Society's National Conference and for the opening concert of a nationally recognized month long festival honoring Igor Stravinsky which involved all of Kansas City's major arts organizations. While Director of Bands at the University at Buffalo, the UB Wind Ensemble was invited to perform for the New York State Band Directors' National Association, the first invitation of its kind for that ensemble.

Dr. McKoin maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician. She served as the 5-A Concert Band All-State Conductor for the Texas Music Educator's Association conference and has been contracted for upcoming Iowa and Florida All-State band festivals. While in Kansas City, she was frequently called upon to guest conduct NewEar, a professional chamber ensemble specializing in contemporary music. In 2001 Professor McKoin traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel to serve as producer for the world premiere recording of Roberto Sierra's Fantasia Correliana with the Castellani-Andriaccio guitar duo on the Fleurdeson label, Arie Lipsky conducting.

Committed to performing literature of today's prominent composers, ensembles under Dr. McKoin's leadership have won the praise of local music critics and guest composers. She has performed several regional and world premieres including works by Chen Yi, Lukas Foss, James Mobberley, Paul Rudy, Dan Welcher, Donald Freund, Walter Hartley, David Maslanka and others. Her position at Brevard has allowed her to collaborate with a number of soloists which include Charles Vernon of the Chicago Symphony, Fred Mills, Tim Morrison, Marty Hackleman, Sam Palafian, Scott Hartmann, Joseph Lulloff, Timothy Northcutt, Rhythm and Brass and the tuba/euphonium ensemble, Symphonia.

Her publications include Leslie Bassett's Colors and Contours: An Analysis for Conductors and Joseph Turrin's Two Sketches published in Volumes 3 and 5 of Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Her DMA research is on the music of Dan Welcher and the ensuing treatise is entitled, Three Places in the West: A Critical Analysis and Reference for Conductors.

McKoin holds her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin as well as degrees from Wichita State University and Michigan State University. She is active in the College Band Director's National Association having served as the New York state chairperson and has taught secondary school in both Michigan and at L.D. Bell High School in Texas.


Christopher Anderson
Director, Goin' Band From Raiderland

Christopher M. Anderson is the Associate Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands, and an Assistant Professor of Music at Texas Tech University. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Abilene Christian University under Fred J. Allen and a Master of Music in Conducting from Northwestern University under John P. Paynter. Mr. Anderson serves as the director of the Goin' Band from Raiderland, the Court Jesters and the Concert Band. He teaches music education courses and is a member of the Graduate Faculty. In addition to his teaching duties, he does a great deal of arranging for college marching bands, competitive high school bands and the Goin' Band. He has also done arrangements for jazz ensemble, concert band, and saxophone quartet.

Previous to his appointment at Texas Tech, Anderson held similar positions at Stephen F. Austin State University where he directed the Lumberjack Marching Band, and at Abilene Christian University as director of the "Big Purple" marching band. Additionally, he taught in the Texas public schools at Keller High School.

Anderson is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association and the College Music Society. He has sponsored and is an honorary member of both Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi.


Keith Dye
Assistant Director of Bands

Keith G. Dye is Associate Professor of Music Education and Assistant Director of Bands. He holds the Ed.D. in College Teaching of Music from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, as well as degrees from West Texas State University, Canyon, TX and Morningside College, Sioux City, IA. Dr. Dye’s primary areas of research interest are the effective use of desktop videoconferencing in delivery of instruction and pre-service music educator preparation.

At Texas Tech University, Dye teaches classes in Secondary Band Techniques of Instruction, Beginning Band Best Practices, Methodology in College Teaching, Methods in Education and Music, as well as serving as conductor of the Concert Band and assisting with all athletic bands.

In service to the music education community, Dr. Dye is Executive Director of the Texas Tech Band and Orchestra Camp and the Texas Tech Middle School Band Academy. He also holds the position of Executive Director of the Foundation for Music Education, a non-profit organization providing support and resources to pre and early service music educators. Additionally, Dr. Dye serves as an instructional consultant to school districts in Texas.

Dr. Dye's ensembles have earned numerous awards and a reputation for a consistently high level of musical excellence. He has presented clinics on instrumental music education techniques and strategies at numerous state and national conventions and served as conductor of numerous regional and all-state ensembles. As a clinician, conductor, and adjudicator, Dr. Dye is in demand as a qualified music educator equally at ease with any age level.


Duane Hill
Teaching Assistant

Duane Hill, a graduate from Texas Tech University, earned his Bachelors Degree in Secondary Music Education and has worked at Leander High School as Associate Director of Bands (2004-2008). At Leander, he was the director of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the music caption head for the marching band, guided the leadership team and conducted the school musicals.

Beyond his aspirations in higher education, Mr. Hillenjoys playing basketball, socializing in uplifting environments and influencing young adults in leadership.

Mr. Hill is extremely passionate about student leadership and works with SASI, which is a leadership development firm that focuses on empowering people to succeed in their work environment and in their personal lives. He also is involved with the Texas Tech Band & Orchestra camp and Choice Music Events. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association and Kappa Kappa Psi.