At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, Brighton High School welcomed a new band director, Mr. Swinkey, into the building. Swinkey is the head of the Brighton High School band program and is the lead teacher of Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble and Marching Band. Swinkey has been a band director and teacher for six years, previously teaching at Monroe High School.
When asked why he chose the job of music education, Swinkey said that he was largely influenced by his own high school band director.
“I just really found a great mentor in my band teacher, and I had such a positive experience in band, and when I got to senior year, I was like, ‘man, I gotta do this for other people,’’’ he said.
Due to the retirement of Mrs. Hoffman, the former band director, Swinkey decided that it would be a great idea to apply for the job. Getting the support from his wife and other teachers, he applied and was eventually accepted for the position.
When asked about the goals that Swinkey has for the Brighton bands program, he said, “My goal is to give every student a positive experience.”
He also hopes to “[meet] students where they’re at to make a productive, fun, and energetic place to be in the band room,” adding that he “[thinks] that the students [they] have right now are great.”
