Directors
Guard Director and designer
Staff Bios
Len Killough
Director of Bands
Len Killough is currently in his eleventh year as Director of Bands at Hernando High School. Under his direction, the Hernando Band has been named a four-time Grand Champion at the Mississippi High School Activities Association 6A State Marching Band Championship and is a multiple 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 caption for the entire scholastic year. Additionally, the Hernando Band was chosen as the featured performing ensemble at the Mississippi Band Directors Association State Band Clinic and has received the American School Band Directors Association Outstanding Band Program for the state of Mississippi. Within the Hernando Band Program Mr. Killough also has overseen multiple state championships and regional awards for its Varsity and Junior Varsity Winterguard, Indoor Winds, Indoor Percussion Ensembles, as well as consistent superior ratings for its 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 and the 2014 Assistant Marching Director, and the 2015 Director of Marching for the Mississippi All-State Band, which traveled to compete internationally.
Mr. Killough is recipient of Band Director of the Year from the Mississippi High School Activities Association and Director of the Year from 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 Bandmasters Association, the Hernando-Desoto Band Directors Association, the I-55 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 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. Outside of his work with bands, Mr. Killough serves as the Director of Music at Gracewood Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending time with his wonderful children, Noah and Mollie Kate.
Joe Quinnelly
Director of Middle School Bands
Joseph Quinnelly is currently in his seventh 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, 2021, and 2022, and Hernando Indoor Percussion has won 4 MIA Circuit Championships and been selected as a WGI World Championship Finalist. 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 Past President of the Hernando-Desoto Band Directors Association and is a member of the Mississippi Band Directors Association, Hernando-Desoto Band Directors Association, and the I-55 Band Directors Association. He is the 2022 recipient of the A. E. McLain Outstanding Young Band Director Award for the state of Mississippi.
Tyler Harris
Assistant Middle School Director / Director of HIP
Tyler Harris is in his fifth 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 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.
Jeremy Driver
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 in his thirteenth year of teaching and designing with the Hernando Band. In those years he helped guide the band to 8 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, 2014, 2019, and 2021.
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. 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 17 years.