Monty Hill named director of bands at Henderson State University

Veteran music educator Montgomery “Monty” Hill has been named director of bands at Henderson State University, returning to his alma mater after a career spanning more than four decades in music education. He will start at Henderson February 23.

Hill, a 1987 graduate of Henderson State, has served as director of bands at Marion Public Schools since 2020. Throughout his career, he has led and revitalized band programs across Arkansas and New Mexico.

While attending Henderson State, Hill studied instrumental conducting with Wendell Evanson and clarinet performance with Earl Hesse. He also served as drum major for the Showband of Arkansas in 1986. Hill graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.

Hill earned his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting Performance at New Mexico State University in 1990. He did post graduate studies in Instrumental Conducting Performance at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996.

Before joining Marion Public Schools, Hill served as director of bands at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, where he established the school’s first band program that included a marching band, concert band, and jazz band.

As director of bands at New Mexico State University, Hill conducted the 200-plus member marching band, Symphonic Winds, and other ensembles.

At Marion, the band program more than tripled in size and earned major state, regional and national recognition, including representing Arkansas in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., and receiving an invitation to perform at the 2027 National Concert Band Invitational at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

In addition to Marion, Hill has extensive experience directing high school bands at Lake Hamilton, Greenwood, El Dorado, Mills University Studies High School in Little Rock, Pea Ridge, Harrison, Warren, Hot Springs Lakeside, and Las Cruces, New Mexico.

“Monty Hill represents the very best of Henderson State — talent, dedication, and a lifelong commitment to music education,” said Henderson State Chancellor Dr. Trey Berry. “His deep roots at Henderson, combined with decades of proven leadership in both collegiate and public school band programs, make him the ideal person to elevate our instrumental music tradition.

“We are thrilled to welcome him home and confident he will inspire student-musicians, strengthen recruitment, and help position our band program among the premier ensembles in the region.”

Hill said, “I am excited to see the growth and resurgence that has occurred at Henderson State, and I feel that the future is very bright. As a band director, my number one job is that of a recruiter.

“I look forward to building upon Henderson’s proud musical traditions while fostering growth, collaboration, and excellence across the university and the broader community.”

Hill and his wife, Valerie, have two children: Kristen Shepherd, a band director at Marion; and Nathaniel Hill, a data scientist in North Little Rock.