Jonathan Hinkle, PhD, is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Colorado Mesa University, where he oversees a comprehensive band program that includes the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Rowdy Brass Band, Mesa Brass Bands, the Maverick Stampede Marching Band, and the annual Best of the West Festival. A member of the CMU faculty since 2012, when he was appinted the university's first Associate Director of Bands, he founded the marching band program and led its growth to more than 150 members within its first four seasons. In 2016, the ensemble began rehersing in its dedicated facility, the Stambede Center. From this leadership, the CMU band program has experienced tremendous growth, leading to an increase in both music majors and faculty positions in the music department.
That same year, Hinkle founded the Rowdy Brass Band, a progressive commerical ensemble now in high demand for professional engagements, performing 30-40 shows annually. The group was most recently featured as a headline act at the 2026 Denver City Jazz Festival.
Hinkle, teaches conducting and applied trumpet and maintains an active national profile as a clinician, adjudicator and honor band conductor, including most recently serving as conductor of the 2026 Wyoming All-State Band. Prior to joining CMU, he was a public school band and orchestra director in Florida, where he led award-wining programs to performances at the Midwest Clinic and the Bands of America National Concert Band Invitational.
He holds a PhD in Music Education from Florida State University and served as principal trumpet in the university's premier ensembles. His extensive performace background spans orchestral, jazz and commercial settings, including appointments as a lead trumpeter at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando and with Orchestra Mia in Fort Lauderdale.
Colorado Mesa University Bands
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