John Lynch, the current director of bands at the University of Kansas, has been named new director of bands in UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music.
He succeeds John Culvahouse, who served as interim director from 2004–2007.
“Dr. Lynch’s presence on our faculty will do much to enhance the reputation of the school and the university,” said Donald R. Lowe, director of the Hodgson School, a unit in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “There is no question that his addition to the faculty will result in attracting excellent students to the Hodgson School and elevating the band and conducting programs so they will be comparable with the finest institutions in the country.”
Lynch’s appointment at UGA becomes official in August.
“I am thrilled to be coming to the University of Georgia as the new director of bands,” said Lynch. “I look forward to building on the strong tradition of the UGA bands and to working closely with students, faculty and administration to create the finest band program in the nation.”
At UGA, Lynch’s duties will include oversight and administration of the entire band program.
He also will be the conductor of the wind ensemble and head of the graduate wind conducting program.
Lynch earned his bachelor’s degree in music from Indiana University, a master’s of music from the Eastman School of Music and a doctor of musical arts degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of the University of Cincinnati.
He presently is a tenured member of the University of Kansas faculty, where he serves as director of bands and as head of the graduate wind conducting program.
Lynch’s previous positions include associate director of bands at Northwestern University and director of instrumental music at Emory University.
In addition, Lynch held positions as music director of the Northshore Concert Band, Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and the Orange County Music Educators Wind Ensemble. He also has 10 years of public high school teaching experience in New York state.