Kelsey Gowan
Summer Rowe
Director of Bands
Len Killough is a native of Booneville, MS where he attended Booneville High School. He received his Bachelors of Music Education from Delta State University, Masters of Music from the University of Mississippi, and Masters of Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
Mr. Killough is currently in his ninth year as Director of Bands at Hernando High School. Under his direction, the Hernando Band has received the Sweepstakes award for Superior Ratings from every judge in every caption for all of his years at Hernando. The Hernando Band also placed second at the MHSAA 5A Marching Band Championships in 2012, third at the MHSAA 6A Marching Band Championships in 2013, first at the MHSAA Marching Band Championships in 2014 and 2015, and third place is 2016. The band also placed first at the MHSAA 6A Championships in both 2018 and 2019.
Prior to coming to Hernando, Mr. Killough spent two years as Director of Bands at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mississippi. Under his direction, the Oxford High School band twice received the Sweepstakes award. Before coming to Oxford, Mr. Killough spent five years as the Director of Bands for Center Hill High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Mr. Killough established the band program and received the Sweepstakes award all 5 years. The Center Hill High School Marching Band placed third in class 5A for the MHSAA Marching Band Championships. Mr. Killough began his career as Assistant Director of Bands at Winona High School. Mr. Killough received various Superior Ratings and placed several students in the Lions All-State Band during his three years at Winona.
Mr. Killough is the Past President of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association board and the I-55 Band Directors Association. He is a member of the Mississippi Band Directors Association, the Hernando-Desoto Band Directors Association, the I-55 Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Music Educators National Conference. In 2013, Mr. Killough was the Assistant Concert Director for the Mississippi Lions All-State Band. In 2014, Mr. Killough was the Assistant Marching Director for the Mississippi LIons All-State Band. Mr. Killough is the Director of Music at Gracewood Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi. In 2015, Mr. Killough and the Hernando High School Symphonic Band performed at the Mississippi Bandmasters State Band Convention in Natchez, Mississippi.
Mr. Killough enjoys fishing and hunting and spending time with his beautiful wife Allyson who is Principal at Career Tech Center West in DeSoto County. Mr. Killough and Allyson have two wonderful children, Noah and Mollie Kate.
Assistant Director of Bands / Marching Band Director
Victoria Franklin Jones is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, where she graduated from Harding Academy in 2007. After completing her Associate's degree in Music Education at Northwest Mississippi Community College in 2009, she entered the University of Mississippi, where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Music Education in 2012. Mrs. Jones gained valuable experience through her teaching internship at Oxford High School, where she was able to work with the band, orchestra, and Oxford Indoor Percussion. Upon graduation from Ole Miss, she spent her first year of teaching at North Pontotoc Attendance Center as an Associate Director of Bands. In 2013, she began her tenure at Hernando High School. In 2017, Mrs. Jones received her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
As Assistant Director of Bands at Hernando High School, Mrs. Jones serves as the marching band director, woodwind specialist, and coordinator of all color guard activities. At Hernando Middle School, she is the 8th Grade concert band director.
During her 7 years at Hernando, the band has achieved 4 MHSAA 6A State Marching Championship gold medals, Bands of America Regional Finalist, WGI World Championship Semi-Finalist, several Mississippi Indoor Association Championships for the winter guards and indoor percussion, consistently received Superior ratings, Sweepstakes Award at State Evaluation, and was chosen to perform as the featured high school ensemble at the MBA State Band Clinic.
Mrs. Jones was the 2017-2018 recipient of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association A.E. McClain Outstanding Young Band Director Award. Mrs. Jones has served on the board for the Hernando Desoto Band Directors Association and the I-55 Band Directors Association.
Mrs. Jones is married to Parker Jones of Tupelo, Mississippi and resides in Hernando, Mississippi with their dog, Maggie.
Director of Middle School Bands
Joseph Quinnelly is currently in his fourth year as the Director of Middle School Bands at Hernando Middle School. He teaches band classes at both the middle school and high school while also assisting in the leadership of Hernando Indoor Percussion. Under his direction, the Hernando Concert Band received a Division I rating at the MHSAA Concert Evaluation in 2018, the Hernando Symphonic Band received a Division I rating in 2019, and Hernando Indoor Percussion won first place in Scholastic Regional A Class State Championships in 2018. Since joining the Hernando Staff, Mr. Quinnelly has helped lead the band to two consecutive MHSAA 6A State Marching Championships in 2018 and 2019.
Mr. Quinnelly is a native of Texarkana, TX, where he attended Texas High School. After graduation, he attended the University of Mississippi, where he graduated at the top of his class with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2017. During his time at Ole Miss, Mr. Quinnelly was a member of The Pride of the South Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, LOU Symphony Orchestra, World Percussion Ensemble, Steel Orchestra, and the Opera Orchestra.
Mr. Quinnelly is the Secretary of the Hernando-Desoto Band Directors Association and is a member of the Mississippi Band Directors Association and the I-55 Band Directors Association as well.
Assistant Middle School Director / Director of HIP
Tyler Harris is in his fourth year of teaching at Hernando Middle School. His teaching responsibilities include: teaching middle school percussion, the 7th grade band, the High School Concert Band, Hernando Indoor Percussion, and leads the drumline for the Hernando Marching Band.
A native of Pontotoc, Mississippi, he graduated from Pontotoc High School in 2013. He then attended the University of Mississippi and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Percussion. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of the Pride of the South Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, LOU Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and the UMISSO Steel Drum Orchestra. Upon graduation, Mr. Harris joined the staff at Hernando.
Mr. Harris resides in Hernando with his wife Hannah and their two dogs Samson and Stella. In his free time, Tyler enjoys drumming, climbing, kayaking, and spending time with his family.
Color Guard Director and Designer
Jeremy Driver, originally from Memphis,TN, is a graduate of Kirby High School. He then received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Alabama in 2000. Jeremy’s color guard career started with Southwind Drum and Bugle corps in 1997 under the direction of Rodney Bailey. In 1998 he marched with Magic of Orlando, under the direction of April Gilligan and Karl Lowe. Jeremy is beginning his eighth year of teaching and designing with the Hernando Band. In those years he helped guide the band to 7 consecutive State band finals and 4 consecutive medals at State Championships. His color guards have also consistently placed in the top 3 each year at State Championships and were the 6A State Champion in 2013 and 2014. His other credits include: Cordova High School, a 2004 BOA Regional Finalist Bartlett High School, a 2002 WGI Scholastic A World Finalist Amalgamation winter guard, a 2004 WGI Independent A World Finalist Southaven High School, MIA 2006 Scholastic A gold medalist & 2006 Mississippi State Marching Band Color Guard champion. Jeremy is also a designer for his alma mater, The University of North Alabama “Pride of Dixie” Marching Band. The “Pride of Dixie” will be returning to Indianapolis this year to perform at BOA’s Grand National Championships in November. In addition to being the director of the Hernando Winter Guards, Jeremy is also a judge for the Gulf Coast Judges Association in the equipment caption and has been judging for over 10 years. Jeremy’s full time job is as a Music Specialist for Shelby County Schools at Northaven Elementary where he has been teaching for 14 years.
Copyright © 2020 Hernando Bands - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder