Jeff Bennett
Band Director

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Jeffrey K. Bennett, Director of Bands at Harbor Springs Public Schools, received his Bachelorof Music Education and Masters of Music in Performance degrees from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. He studied percussion with Professor Robert Hohner, music education with Professor Emeritus Norman C. Dietz, and conducting with John E. Williamson.

He has been timpanist/percussionist with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra and the Traverse City Symphony Orchestra as well as principal percussionist with the Saginaw and Midland Symphon Orchestras. Mr. Bennett taught six summers at Interlochen's National Music Camp, and continues to serve as a clinician and adjudicator throughout Michigan.

During the summers in northern Michigan he performs with the Petoskey Steel Band Alumni under the direction of Barry Bennett and directs the Harbor Springs Jazz Band at a variety of venues. As a percussionist, Mr. Bennett has performed at the Midwestern Music Conference with the Central Michigan University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under the director of Norman C. Dietz, and the CMU Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Robert Hohner.

Currently in his twenty-ninth year of teaching instrumental music, with the last seven at Harbor Springs, he has taught nearly eleven thousand students during this career. While teaching at East Kentwood High School from 1988-2000, he more than quadrupled the band enrollment from seventy-five to three hundred-fifty.

In Harbor Springs Public Schools, Mr. Bennett serves as director of the 5th Grade Band, 6th Grade Band, Middle School Band, Jazz Band, and the High School Band. Known for building and maintaining music programs, he has nearly tripled the enrollment of the Harbor Springs Band Program since 2000, which has gained a distinguished reputation for outstanding performances at all performance venues including concert, jazz and marching.

Knowing the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association is a vital partner in music education, Mr. Bennett has served in a variety of officer and committee positions over the many years. He is currently serving his last term as president of District Two.

Contact Jeff Bennett.