Band Director / School Webmaster

Courses Taught:

     Marching and Concert Band

     Photography/Digital Media Arts

     Music Tech

Bio:

John Hillsman is a native of Tifton, Georgia. Upon graduation from Tift County High School, he attended Troy State University. He currently holds a Bachelors, a Masters, and  a Specialist Degrees in Music Education from TSU (now Troy University).

While at Troy State, Mr. Hillsman served as the drum major of the nationally recognized “Sound of the South” Marching Band. He has served as the drum major and a staff member of the McDonald’s All American Band.

Prior to accepting his current position as band director at Beauregard High School in Beauregard, Alabama, Mr. Hillsman was the band director at Hawkinsville High School, Westover High School, Washington County High School, and Jeff Davis High School. This year marks his thirty-ninth as a music educator in the states of Georgia and Alabama, and his ninth as the band director at Beauregard High School.  

He previously served on the staff of Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps and the Suncoast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. He regularly serves as a clinician and adjudicator in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. He is the co-founder of both the Georgia Marching Band Series and the Alabama Marching Band Alliance.

Mr. Hillsman is currently a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, Alabama Music Educators Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the Alabama Education Association, and the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association. He has previously served on the GMEA State Board for six terms and on the organization’s Band Division Council for a total of seven terms during his career.

As a webmaster, Mr. Hillsman has held that position previously at Washington County High School, Jeff Davis High School, and he currently serves in that capacity at Beauregard High School.   

In addition to his participation in numerous musical organizations and activities, he enjoys motorcycle riding, hiking, camping, traveling, and photography. As an amateur photographer, Mr. Hillsman's photographs have received both recognitions and awards in various exhibitions to include the Alabama Press Association.

Mr. Hillsman currently resides in Auburn, Alabama. He is married to Marcia Gerrald Hillsman and has two children, Ryan Clanton and Hailey Hillsman and three grandsons: Rhett, John Troy, and Jiles Clanton and Knox Kuelman.