Dr. Hayes Bunch
Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Bands - Fine Arts
Dr. Hayes Bunch joined the faculty of Young Harris College in the Fall of 2022. He conducts the Young Harris College Concert and Jazz Bands, teaches Percussion Class and Advanced Conducting for music education majors, and Applied Major Percussion lessons.
As a conductor, Dr. Bunch has led works and collaborated in rehearsal and performance with Oberlin Conservatory’s Stephen Hartke, Harvard Professor Emeritus and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Bernard Rands, University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Zhou Long, and eighth blackbird. He has presented research on programming possibilities for electronics and ensemble at the Southwestern Division Conference of the College Band Director’s National Association and has participated in conducting symposia with Richard Clary, Eugene Corporon, Michael Haithcock, Craig Kirchoff, Gary Lewis, H. Robert Reynolds, Kevin Sedatole and Mallory Thompson. Bunch has also served as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for various concert, marching, chamber music, and solo events in Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas, Michigan, and Tennessee. Dr. Bunch has served on the faculty of the University of South Carolina Aiken, the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI), the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX), the Temple Independent School District (TX), the Interlochen Arts Academy (MI), and the Obion County Schools (TN).
Dr. Bunch performed as a percussionist under the baton of Leonard Slatkin on the Grammy Award Winning recording of William Bolcom’s Songs of Innocence and Experience (Naxos), internationally at the Beijing Modern Music Festival at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, with the Fountain City Brass Band (MO), Temple Symphony Orchestra and Temple Jazz Orchestra (TX), Plymouth Symphony (MI), and with artists Randy Brecker, Allen Vizzuti, Gordon Goodwin, Bill Watrous, among others. He currently enjoys playing with the Tri-State Community Band in Blue Ridge, GA.
Dr. Bunch’s professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, as well as honorary memberships with Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi.
Dr. Bunch is student-centered and feels that YHC students are thoughtful, kind, driven, intellectually curious about art and music, and committed to making a difference in their communities and academic disciplines. When not teaching and researching, he enjoys watching sporting events, visual art, and reading.
Education
- B.M. Instrumental Music K-12, University of Tennessee – Martin
- M.M. Performance Percussion, University of Michigan
- M.M. Conducting, D.M.A. Conducting, University of Missouri – Kansas City
- innovative programming possibilities for wind and percussion instruments
