Dylan Hatley

Director of Bands at Southeast Alamance High School in Haw River, NC
Education: BM with a concentration in music education, UNC Charlotte (2023)
Hometown: Albemarle, NC

Dylan Hatley’s love for music started at an early age when visiting his grandmother’s house, where she would sing and play the piano for him and his brother everyday after school. He grew up trying different instruments and then decided to give drums a try in his 7th grade band. This newfound love of drums led him to join the marching band in the 8th grade, and Dylan attributes that decision as one of the pivotal moments in his musical career. His band director during his junior and senior years of high school inspired him to pursue music as a career and continued to support and mentor Dylan all throughout college. 

Currently, Dylan is the inaugural Director of Bands at Southeast Alamance High School in Haw River, NC. He directs all facets of the band program, including Beginning Band, Concert Band, and Percussion Ensemble classes as well as the Southeast Alamance Marching Stallions. 

Dylan says the professors in the Department of Music worked very hard to create a rigorous and educational experience that mirrors real world expectations, and that dedication is what helped prepare him most for his current position.

“Professor Rick Dior (percussion) opened my eyes and ears to so many new ideas and sounds and redefined what I thought a “good” musician was. He patiently helped me grow from someone who played ‘like a fourth grader’ to being able to perform among the highest level in my studio. In my current classes as a teacher, I think back to how he would handle problems in rehearsal or in private lessons to deal with my own students. I regularly use videos from his Youtube channel to explain things to my class, and it makes me think back to when I was his student. His balance of being tough and nice while still holding very high expectations is a constant inspiration and is something I try to emulate everyday.”. 

Dylan adds that Jacqi Yost was one of the kindest and most supportive professors he had throughout college. “Her passion for music and music theory was infectious to say the least. She began my love for music theory and supported and encouraged me to pursue composition as a serious part of my musical experience. Her devotion to her students and excitement for music is something I try to emulate everyday with my students”

A favorite memory is his final Percussion Ensemble Concert in the Fall of 2022 was. Knowing that this was his final concert was bittersweet, but the fact that he was playing with some of his best friends throughout college made it an incredible experience. The Percussion Ensemble Concert from the semester before was cancelled due to Covid, so the percussionists who had graduated were invited back to play with them. 

Since graduating, Dylan has had the distinct pleasure of building a band program from scratch. Southeast Alamance High School opened its doors for students in the Fall of 2023 as the first new high school in Alamance county in over 50 years. He was brought on as the Band Director in early June of 2023 and helped open the school in its inaugural year. 

“Starting a program as a first year teacher was something I never thought possible, but I am so grateful for the opportunity. Being able to experience all of the ‘firsts’ in a program is such a surreal experience and though it has not been easy to create a band program from nothing, I could not imagine myself doing anything else.” 

His advice for current students: “Always try to find ways to further your education outside of the classroom! Learning information in class is great but it only gets you so far. If you want to be the best you can be, find ways to implement what you are being taught and apply it in the real world. College is just a modified version of the real world so don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way!”