Mr. Austin Tripp currently holds the position of Director of Bands at Grand Blanc High School, a role he assumed in June 2023. He possesses a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Michigan Flint, where he completed his student teaching under the guidance of Mr. Scott Pries in Imlay City.

Before joining the staff at Grand Blanc, Mr. Tripp was the Choir and Band Director, and Fine Arts Department Chair at Powers Catholic High School from January 2021 to June 2023. During his tenure at Powers, he consistently emphasized student growth and fostered enriching experiences within the Powers Catholic High School Band and Choir Programs. In this capacity, he effectively led various ensembles, including the Chargers Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Orchestra Pit.

Having once been a student of Grand Blanc High School himself, Mr. Tripp has previously served as a Visual Staff Member for the Grand Blanc High School Marching Band from 2016 to 2019, prior to assuming a role as Visual Caption Head at Fenton High School in 2022.

Beyond his professional commitments, Mr. Tripp enjoys engaging in activities such as basketball, music arranging/composing, and collaborative performances with his peers and colleagues.

Mr. Klee, is a native of Lake Orion,MI and was most recently the K-12 Music & Band Director at Dryden Community Schools. He graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2022 with his Bachelor’s of Music Education from the Honors College and is currently working on his Masters in K-12 Education Administration at Michigan State University. He has marched 11 seasons of marching band including seasons at Lake Orion HS, the Lake Orion Winter Colorguard, the 2018 U.S. Army All American Marching Band, and the Pride of Mississippi marching band. He also has taught as a music and visual technician at Lake Orion High School’s marching band since 2020 and was most recently Dakota High School’s saxophone technician. His primary instrument is saxophone while his secondary is euphonium for which he was a section leader at Southern Miss.

In his first year at Dryden, Mr. Klee increased membership by 240% in the high school band while leading the program to performances at Little Caesars Arena, opening weekend at Comerica Park as well as a collaborative concert with the Lake Orion High School Wind Ensemble. He believes in cultivating a positive and inclusive learning environment where all students feel comfortable and challenged to grow musically while becoming the best individuals they can be as well.

When not busy teaching, you can find Mr. Klee going to concerts, music festivals, thrifting, working out, enjoying poetry, taking care of animals on the family farm, and café-hopping. “I am incredibly excited to work for the amazing Grand Blanc Bands and cannot wait to work with the wonderful students and staff!”

-John Klee, Grand Blanc High School Band Director

Mr. Corbin Hutchison has assumed the position of Director of Bands at Grand Blanc High School since August 2003. Mr. Hutchison's educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Michigan State University and a Master's Degree from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to joining Grand Blanc, he served as the Assistant Band Director for the Durand Area Schools in Durand, Michigan for a duration of four years. Since 1991, Mr. Hutchison has been actively engaged as a percussion instructor, lending his expertise to various ensembles such as the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Michigan State Comp. Line, and the Plymouth Canton Educational Park Marching Band.

During his tenure at Michigan State University, Mr. Hutchison was a member of the MSU Symphonic Orchestra, MSU Wind Symphony, various MSU Percussion Ensembles, and the MSU Competitive Drumline. Notably, he is an alumnus of Grand Blanc High School, having graduated in 1989.

In recognition of his contributions to the music program, the GBCS Board of Education honored Mr. Hutchison in 2005. Subsequently, he was bestowed the title of GBHS Elective Teacher of the Year in both 2010 and 2018. In March of 2013, Mr. Hutchison's unwavering dedication to fostering the growth and development of students with special needs within the music program led to his receipt of the high school's "Student Advocate" Award. Demonstrating his prowess as an educator, he was awarded the coveted "Teacher of the Year" title by MSBOA District 3 in 2013. In 2014, the Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce recognized Mr. Hutchison as the distinguished "Educator of the Year". Furthermore, in 2023, he was honored by the SVHSA as the recipient of the esteemed "Teacher of the Year" accolade within our district.

Mr. Jacob Finkbeiner has been the Director of Bands at Grand Blanc West Middle School since August 2016, and was the Assistant Director at the high school from 2009-2016. Mr. Finkbeiner received his Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Alma College in 2007, and his Masters Degree in Percussion Performance at Michigan State University.  Prior to coming to Grand Blanc, Mr. Finkbeiner taught adjunct percussion lessons at Alma College in 2008, and has worked with the drumline for the Alma College Kiltie Marching Band since 2006.  In addition to teaching at Alma, Mr. Finkbeiner has worked with various high school percussion sections throughout the state, and taught private percussion lessons since 2002.  As a performer, Mr. Finkbeiner has played at the Detroit Jazz Festival, Jazz Port Townsend (Port Townsend, WA), and the Michigan Music Conference with the Alma College Percussion Ensemble, and has substituted with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, Midland Symphony Orchestra, and the Bijou Orchestra.  Currently, he plays with Third Coast Steel, a Mid-Michigan based Steel Drum Trio.

Ms. Linda Stevens has been a Band Director in the Grand Blanc Community School System since 1997, where she's had the pleasure of teaching at Grand Blanc High School, the "original" Grand Blanc Middle School, and Brendel Sixth Grade Building.  Ms. Stevens graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education and a Minor in Flute Performance. While at WMU she had the distinction of being the only freshman member in the top ensemble the Symphonic Band, and being the only freshman invited to serve on  the WMU Marching Band Counsel. Her Masters Degree was earned at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Ill where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.  Ms. Stevens has always loved the marching arts and has earned many distinctions in this area.  She's marched in three competitive Senior Drum and Bugles Corps, in addition to designing drill and teaching several corps and competitive marching bands.  She has served or is currently an Adjudicator for; Great Lakes Judging Association, Michigan Competing Band Association, Central States Judging Association, Drum Corps Midwest and Drum Corps International.