Paul R. Hinman has served as a music educator over 25 years. He is currently serving as the Director of Bands in the Jefferson City Public Schools. Prior to this position he served 5 years in various administrative roles in the Office of Institutional Advancement at Alfred State College in Alfred, New York. In addition, his previous service includes 12 years as Director of University Bands at East Tennessee State University and 14 years as the Director of Bands at schools in Texas, Indiana, and Illinois.

 As a conductor/clinician, Mr. Hinman has commissioned several works and has premiered more than 40 new compositions. His ensembles have performed at state, regional, national, and international conventions and conferences. Paul is internationally recognized as a clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator for concert bands, orchestras, marching bands, and jazz ensembles. He has also received much recognition as a marching band arranger and show designer. He has presented concerts, clinics, and seminars, and judged events throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and Scotland.

 In addition to his work as a band conductor, Mr. Hinman has been active in Community organizations, chamber ensembles, and orchestras. He most recently served as the Conductor and Music Director for the Wellsville Performing Arts Orchestra and Conductor of the Hornell Wind Ensemble. He was the founder and artistic director the Mt. Empire Wind Ensemble. Hinman has served as the Associate Conductor of the Johnson City Symphony and as the Conductor of the Johnson City Community Concert Band. He is formerly the tubaist with the Johnson City Symphony and with the East Tennessee State University Faculty Brass Quintet, and currently performs with the Columbia Concert Band.  

 Mr. Hinman is a member of numerous professional organizations and has held offices in several including the Tennessee State Chairman to the College Band Directors National Association; Board of Directors for the Tennessee Music Educators Association, and College Representative to the East Tennessee School Band & Orchestra Association. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, Phi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as well as several other professional and fraternal organizations. Additionally, Hinman is actively involved as a member of the Drum Corps International Judges Guild, and has been invited to judge at the DCI World Championships numerous times over the past 20 years.

Several of Mr. Hinman’s publications can be found in the “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band” series.

 He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. Mr. Hinman has also completed postgraduate work at the University of Illinois, and at East Tennessee State University. Paul Hinman resides in Jefferson City, Missouri with his wife Janice. They have three daughters: Leigh Anne, Rhonda, and Sondra.        

Mike Sestak is an assistant director of the marching and concert bands, and is the percussion instructor and arranger. He was with the Music Department of the Jefferson City Public Schools in 1984-1985, returned in 1988 and has been here since then. He has been a staff member of the Jefferson City Public Schools since 1993.

Mr. Sestak received his Bachelor of Science in Education and Music Certification from Truman State University and Lincoln University. He was a 1984 member of the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps of Rosemont, Illinois.

Diane Ackmann joined the Jay Band Staff in August 2007 as Band Director for Lewis and Clark Middle School and as Assistant Director for the Marching and Concert Bands at Jefferson City High School.

A native of St. Louis, she earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, with additional graduate work at Indiana University.

Mrs. Ackmann has taught in public schools in Missouri, Indiana and Oklahoma, where she served for 19 years as a member of the Band Staff with Union Public Schools-Tulsa. She has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards and accolades, including "Teacher of the Year," as voted by her colleagues. Mrs. Ackmann is active as a professional flutist, clinician and adjudicator.

Chris Knehans began teaching with the Jefferson City Public Schools Instrumental Music Department in 1999, and received his Master of Arts in Theory and Composition from Central MO State University in May, 2001. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education from Central MO State in 1997, Mr. Knehans served as Director of Bands at Lexington R-V High School in Lexington MO. While pursuing his Masters degree, he served as Graduate Assistant of Bands at the University and Assistant Band Director / Music Consultant to Warrensburg High School.

Originally from Union, MO, Mr. Knehans has participated in Music Educators National Conference, Missouri Bandmasters Association, and served as both a performer and manager in MMEA Intercollegiate Band (2000). He also served as president of the Collegiate Music Educators National Conference.