Kevin Bennett

Director of Bands - Highland High School

Kevin Bennett is in his twenty-first year teaching at Highland High School within the Gilbert Public School District. He started as the assistant band director at Highland High School and Highland Junior High School. Mr. Bennett took over as the Director of Bands at Highland High School in the fall of 2006. He received his Bachelor’s of Instrumental Music Education degree from the University of Idaho in 1999. He earned his Master of Education degree from the University of Phoenix in the spring of 2004. The concert, jazz, and marching bands frequently receive high ratings in Arizona festivals and competes in festivals and competitions all over the Southwest. Mr. Bennett also co-founded the Highland/ASU Jazz Festival and it is in its 11th year of providing a world class jazz education. The three-day festival includes over 45 ensemble participants, 25 master classes from local jazz educators as well as clinics and concerts performed by world class jazz musicians including; Dick Oatts, Jim McNeely, Wayne Bergeron, Andy Martin, Benny Golson, Lewis Nash, Tia Fuller and Ingrid Jensen. The festival concerts are held in cooperation with the ASU Concert Jazz Band directed by Michael Kocour. Mr. Bennett is the 2018 recipient of the O.M. Harstell Excellence in Music Teaching Award.