Adam K. Hilkert, ABD is a Doctoral Candidate in Instrumental Conducting at George Mason University, conducting the Wind Symphony and the Symphonic Band. In addition to his duties at Mason, Mr. Hilkert also serves as Music Director of the Vienna Community Band and as Director of Bands at Annandale High School (Annandale, Virginia), where he guides all aspects of the band program; conducts the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, The Atomic Force Pep Band, and The Marching Atoms; and serves as Advisor to the Tri-M Music Honor Society. His bands have earned numerous superior ratings from assessments and contests throughout Virginia and the United States; and most recently, the Annandale Bands earned the 2014 Virginia Honor Band Award. Mr. Hilkert has been recognized by the Fairfax County Public Schools Board of Supervisors for his excellence in teaching by leading the Marching Atoms to success at the 2013 USBands Mid-Atlantic States Championships; where they were named 2013 USBands III Open State Champions having earned First Place, Best Music, Best Visual, and the Overall Rating of Superior, competing against bands from across the nation. The Annandale Symphonic Band and Concert Band were both rated Superior at the 2014 VBODA State Concert Band Assessment, and the Marching Atoms were also rated Superior at the 2013 VBODA State Marching Band Assessment. Mr. Hilkert is the founder of both The Atomic Force Pep Band and the Annandale High School Alumni Band Association. He also serves on the School Improvement Plan Committee and the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports Committee.
Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, he previously served as Acting Director of Bands at Langley High School; Associate Director of the Mason Symphonic Band; Conductor of the Mason Repertory Orchestra; Assistant Principal Double Bass with the American Festival Pops Orchestra; Director of Choral Activities at Martin University; Orchestra Instructor at Warren Central High School and Lawrence Central High School; and Principal Double Bassist with the Indiana Wind Symphony, Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis, Heartland Big Band, and the Actors Theatre of Indiana. Mr. Hilkert completed the coursework for a Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University in June 2013, and he holds a Master of Arts in Wind Conducting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and a Bachelor of Music Arts from DePauw University. His principal conducting teachers include Anthony Maiello, Mark Camphouse, Dr. Dennis Layendecker, Dr. Jack Stamp, Dr. Jason Worzbyt, Dr. Craig Paré, Orcenith Smith, and Gabriel Crouch. He has had further study with conductors including H. Robert Reynolds, Eugene Migliaro Corporon, Allan McMurray, Richard Floyd, Rodney Winther, Kevin Sedatole, Cliff Colnot, and James Jordan. Mr. Hilkert has gained respect from composers for his interpretations of their repertoire; his Masters Thesis, An Analysis of Selected Band Works of Donald H. White, is the first academic research on the composer. His DMA Dissertation, An Interpretive, Historical, and Comparative Analysis of Selected Band Works of Donald H. White, will continue this research and analyze the composer’s role in the 21st Century.
As an educator, Mr. Hilkert has taught various music courses and private lessons and has conducted numerous bands, orchestras, choirs, and jazz ensembles at all grade levels in the public schools of Indianapolis, Indiana and Fairfax, Virginia and at the Potomac Arts Academy, George Mason University, Martin University, IUP-Punxsutawney Campus, IUP-Main Campus, and DePauw University. He has served as a judge and clinician for the Indiana State School Music Association and has led masterclasses and workshops for Educational Performance Tours. He also has extensive experience directing athletic bands, chamber winds, and musical theatre while having served as Director of the DePauw Tiger Pep Band & Guard, Director of the IUP Pep Band, Assistant to the Director of the IUP Marching Band, Founder and Conductor of the IUP Chamber Winds, and Music Director for collegiate productions of Children of Eden, Hair, and Quilters.
As a performer, Mr. Hilkert has been recorded on over 15 discs on the Klavier, GIA, Mark Masters, and Mark Custom labels as a member of the Keystone Wind Ensemble, North Texas Wind Symphony, IUP Wind Ensemble, and DePauw University Band, and has extensive experience as a freelance double bassist in classical, jazz, and rock music. He has performed with jazz artists Marvin Hamlisch, Clark Terry, Chris Vadala, Harry Watters, Chip McNeill, Rick Simerly, Kirk Garrison, Jim Connerley, and Stanley Chepaitis. His principal double bass teachers include L. Bennett Crantford, Glenn Dewey, Gregory Dugan, Robert Goodlett, Murray Grodner, Jack Helsley, Ju-Fang Liu, and Fred Withrow.
Mr. Hilkert holds professional memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the Virginia Music Educators Association, the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, the International Society of Bassists, the North America Scholar Consortium Honor Society, the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society, and the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.
Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, he previously served as Acting Director of Bands at Langley High School; Associate Director of the Mason Symphonic Band; Conductor of the Mason Repertory Orchestra; Assistant Principal Double Bass with the American Festival Pops Orchestra; Director of Choral Activities at Martin University; Orchestra Instructor at Warren Central High School and Lawrence Central High School; and Principal Double Bassist with the Indiana Wind Symphony, Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis, Heartland Big Band, and the Actors Theatre of Indiana. Mr. Hilkert completed the coursework for a Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University in June 2013, and he holds a Master of Arts in Wind Conducting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and a Bachelor of Music Arts from DePauw University. His principal conducting teachers include Anthony Maiello, Mark Camphouse, Dr. Dennis Layendecker, Dr. Jack Stamp, Dr. Jason Worzbyt, Dr. Craig Paré, Orcenith Smith, and Gabriel Crouch. He has had further study with conductors including H. Robert Reynolds, Eugene Migliaro Corporon, Allan McMurray, Richard Floyd, Rodney Winther, Kevin Sedatole, Cliff Colnot, and James Jordan. Mr. Hilkert has gained respect from composers for his interpretations of their repertoire; his Masters Thesis, An Analysis of Selected Band Works of Donald H. White, is the first academic research on the composer. His DMA Dissertation, An Interpretive, Historical, and Comparative Analysis of Selected Band Works of Donald H. White, will continue this research and analyze the composer’s role in the 21st Century.
As an educator, Mr. Hilkert has taught various music courses and private lessons and has conducted numerous bands, orchestras, choirs, and jazz ensembles at all grade levels in the public schools of Indianapolis, Indiana and Fairfax, Virginia and at the Potomac Arts Academy, George Mason University, Martin University, IUP-Punxsutawney Campus, IUP-Main Campus, and DePauw University. He has served as a judge and clinician for the Indiana State School Music Association and has led masterclasses and workshops for Educational Performance Tours. He also has extensive experience directing athletic bands, chamber winds, and musical theatre while having served as Director of the DePauw Tiger Pep Band & Guard, Director of the IUP Pep Band, Assistant to the Director of the IUP Marching Band, Founder and Conductor of the IUP Chamber Winds, and Music Director for collegiate productions of Children of Eden, Hair, and Quilters.
As a performer, Mr. Hilkert has been recorded on over 15 discs on the Klavier, GIA, Mark Masters, and Mark Custom labels as a member of the Keystone Wind Ensemble, North Texas Wind Symphony, IUP Wind Ensemble, and DePauw University Band, and has extensive experience as a freelance double bassist in classical, jazz, and rock music. He has performed with jazz artists Marvin Hamlisch, Clark Terry, Chris Vadala, Harry Watters, Chip McNeill, Rick Simerly, Kirk Garrison, Jim Connerley, and Stanley Chepaitis. His principal double bass teachers include L. Bennett Crantford, Glenn Dewey, Gregory Dugan, Robert Goodlett, Murray Grodner, Jack Helsley, Ju-Fang Liu, and Fred Withrow.
Mr. Hilkert holds professional memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the Virginia Music Educators Association, the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, the International Society of Bassists, the North America Scholar Consortium Honor Society, the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society, and the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta.