Hernando Band Staff

Director of Bands

Len Killough is currently in his thirteenth  year as Director of Bands at Hernando High School.  Under his direction, the Hernando Band is a five-time Grand Champion at the Mississippi High School Activities Association State Marching Band Championship and is a multi-year class champion and finalist at Bands of America Regional and Super Regional events.  Mr. Killough has led the band to consecutive Sweepstakes Awards from the Mississippi High School Activities Association, recognizing superior ratings from every judge in every category for the entire scholastic year.  Additionally, the Hernando Band was chosen as the featured performing ensemble at the Mississippi Bandmasters Association State Band Clinic and has received the American School Band Directors Association Outstanding Band Program Award for the state of Mississippi.  Within the Hernando Band Program Mr. Killough also has overseen multiple state championships and regional/national awards for its Winter Guards, Indoor Winds Ensembles, and Indoor Percussion Ensembles, as well as consistent superior ratings for the Hernando Middle School Band. 

Prior to his tenure with the Hernando Band Program, Mr. Killough spent two years as Director of Bands at Oxford High School in Oxford, Mississippi, where the band received the Sweepstakes Award.  In 2004 Mr. Killough established the band program at Center Hill High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi, where he served for five years.  The newly-established program earned the Sweepstakes Award in each of those years and placed third in class 5A State Marching Band Championships.  Mr. Killough began his career as Assistant Director of Bands at Winona High School, where the program received various superior ratings under his direction. 

Throughout his career Mr. Killough has consistently had numerous students earn placement in the prestigious Mississippi All-State Band.  Mr. Killough was the 2013 Assistant Concert Director, the 2014 Assistant Marching Director, and the 2015 Director of Marching for the Mississippi All-State Band, which traveled to compete internationally.

Mr. Killough was named the 2023 Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Band Director of the Year for the State of Mississippi.  He has also been named Band Director of the Year by the Mississippi High School Activities Association and Director of the Year by the National Federation of High Schools (Region 2 comprising twelve states).  He is the Past President of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association and the I-55 Band Directors Association.  He is a member of the Mississippi Band Directors Association, the I-55 Band Directors Association, the Hernando-Desoto Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, ASBDA, NBA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, and NAfME.

Mr. Killough is a native of Booneville, MS. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Delta State University, Master of Music from the University of Mississippi, and Master of Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.  Outside of his work with bands, Mr. Killough serves as the Director of Music at Gracewood Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi.  He enjoys fishing, golfing, hunting, and spending time with his wonderful children, Noah and Mollie Kate.

Assistant Middle School Director / Director of HIP

Tyler Harris is in his eighth year of teaching at Hernando Middle School. His teaching responsibilities include: teaching middle school percussion and woodwinds, the High School Concert Band, Hernando Indoor Percussion, and leading 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 dog Samson. In his free time, Tyler enjoys drumming, climbing, kayaking, and spending time with his family.