HUNTER KOPCZYNSKI serves as Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of music at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he conducts the UNC Charlotte Wind Ensemble and teaches courses in conducting and music education.  

Dr. Kopczynski comes to Charlotte after holding similar positions at Mars Hill University and in the public schools of Virginia. At MHU, he coordinated the band program, conducted the wind symphony, and taught courses in the Department of Music. Additionally, he served as conductor of the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra. Before his time in Asheville, Dr. Kopczynski completed his graduate degrees at Michigan State University, where he held instructional and musical responsibilities with each of the concert and athletic bands and served the Graduate School as a Leadership Fellow. Prior to graduate study, he taught middle and high school music in Virginia. There he successfully led high school and middle school bands in the Roanoke County Schools and most recently for six years in the Williamsburg-James City County Schools.

Kopczynski earned the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Wind Conducting from Michigan State University. He also completed a Master of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude in Music from Virginia Tech. His principal conducting teachers were Kevin L. Sedatole and Travis J. Cross.  

He is an advocate for the expansion, development, and diversification of the wind repertoire and a supporter of music education in the schools. In his research and teaching, Dr. Kopczynski is especially interested in the intersection of experience and curriculum to influence ensemble culture. He is an active adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor, and has presented at state and regional music education conferences. His professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association and the National Association for Music Education.

BRIAN TAYLOR serves as Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. At Charlotte, he directs the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band, 49er Basketball Band and Symphonic Band, and teaches courses in music education. He recently earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at Michigan State University under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Sedatole. In 2020, Dr. Taylor presented with Dr. Rebekah Daniel at TMEA on rehearsal strategies that develop independent and collaborative individual musicians. Immediately before his DMA studies, he completed a MM in conducting at MSU.

Before beginning his graduate studies, Dr. Taylor taught high school and middle school band in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for four years. He earned his BM and BA from the University of Texas where he studied under Jerry Junkin, Bob Duke, and Ray Sasaki. His professional memberships include CBDNA and TMEA.