Staff

Melissa Gustafson-Hinds is in her 18th year as Director of Bands at O’Fallon Township High School, where she also serves as Performing Arts Department Chair. In addition, she is the Band Division President for the Illinois Music Educators Association.

Under her leadership, the OTHS Band Program has received national recognition, including the prestigious John Philip Sousa Sudler Flag and Sudler Shield awards. The OTHS Marching Panthers have been consistent finalists at Bands of America Grand National Championships and Regional competitions, earning Grand National Finalist honors in 2018.

The Marching Panthers have performed in nationally recognized events including the Tournament of Roses Parade in 2015 and 2022, as well as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Concert ensembles have also appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Music For All National Festival, the ILMEA State Convention, and The Midwest Clinic.

The OTHS Band Program has earned the NBA Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award and several Music For All Advocacy Awards. Melissa was recently inducted into the American Bandmasters Association.

Originally from Monmouth, Melissa earned degrees from Illinois State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and University of Missouri–St. Louis. She has spent 32 years teaching in Illinois public schools. Melissa and her husband, Evan Hinds, have one daughter, Evelyn.

Matthew was born in North Dakota and moved to Southern Illinois around the age of ten—the same year he began drumming. He graduated from Highland High School in 2010 and went on to earn a degree in Instrumental Music Education with a percussion emphasis from Eastern Illinois University in 2015.

During his time at EIU, Matthew was active in the Percussion Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Eastern Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other ensembles. He also served as drumline section leader for the Panther Marching Band for three years. Beyond campus ensembles, Matthew marched in Freedom Percussion during the 2013 season as a member of the snare section.

Previously, Matthew served as Associate Director of Music and Percussion Director at Cedar Valley High School. He was also Percussion Director and Arranger for Mater Dei Catholic High School—the 2018 WGI St. Louis Regional Championship winner—as well as Central Community High School.

In addition, Matthew served as percussion instructor for the McKendree University Bearcat Band. He has instructed numerous scholastic groups throughout the St. Louis area and Salt Lake area.

Matthew is also an active clinician, judge, performer, arranger, and private lesson instructor for students of all ages. He serves as a Board Member of the Utah Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and is an educational endorser of Salyers Percussion.

Brandon Fink is a native Oklahoman and began his color guard training in Oklahoma City. He continued his education with Sarajevo Winter Guard of Siloam Springs, Arkansas (2004) and Insignia Winter Guard of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas (2005-2007). Brandon choreographed and performed for Eclectix Winter Guard (2008) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Central Independent (2009) of Edmond, Oklahoma. Brandon was a member of the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps of Canton, Ohio (2005-2008). He has been an active member of the Visual Staff for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2019-2021) and serves as the Founder/Artistic Director at La Voûte (2019-2021).

Brandon received his B.F.A. in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma. He was a company member with MADCO (2011-2016), The Muny in Fiddler On The Roof (2016), Variety Theatre in Wizard Of Oz (2017)/The Little Mermaid (2018), Opera Theatre of St. Louis in Orfeo and Euridice (2018), Bach Society of St. Louis in Bach In Motion (2019), and Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis in Such Sweet Thunder (2019). Brandon is currently a company dancer at The Big Muddy Dance Company (2016-present) as well as the Director of Educational Programs.

Brandon’s choreography has been presented at the Big Muddy Dance Company, the University of Missouri St. Louis, The University of Central Oklahoma, Florida Atlantic University, the Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival, the St. Louis Arts Alliance, the American Dance Troupe, The Convergence Trainee Program, and MADCO. His design, choreography, and instruction within the marching arts reaches programs in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. Brandon is very thankful for the continued support from his friends, family, and loving husband, Ryan Grigsby.