Dr. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds

Melissa Gustafson-Hinds is in her 17th year as Director of Bands at O’Fallon Township High School in O’Fallon, Illinois. In addition to her teaching duties at O’Fallon Township High School, Melissa Gustafson-Hinds serves as Performing Arts Department Chair at OTHS and the Illinois Music Educators Association Band Division President.  The OTHS Band Program has recently earned the honors of the John Philip Sousa Sudler Flag (2022) and Sudler Shield (2023) for the OTHS Band Program.  Under her direction, the OTHS Marching Panthers have been consistent Bands of America (BOA) Regional and Super Regional finalists, Grand National Semi-Finalists, and a Grand National Finalist in 2018.  In 2015 and 2022, the band marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.  The Marching Panthers recently performed in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The concert ensembles have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival, the Music For All National Festival, the ILMEA State Convention, and the Midwest Clinic. The O’Fallon Township Band Program was honored with the NBA Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award (2019), along with multiple Music For All Advocacy Awards. Melissa Gustafson-Hinds is a newly inducted member of the American Bandmasters Association.