EMPFIELD

Brian Tychinski

Mr. Tychinski has been teaching in the Hempfield Area School District since 1997, and has been the Director of Bands since 2006. Under his direction, The Spartan Band has traveled coast to coast and performed for hundreds of thousands. Performances at the Statue of Liberty, Flight 93 Memorial and Pearl Harbor are among the band’s most memorable. The band has also frequently paraded in Disneyworld, San Antonio's Fiesta Flambeau Parade, and many local events. In 2019 the band will travel to London England, where they have been invited to perform for the London New Year's Day Parade and Festival.

     Prior to his arrival at Hempfield, he taught high school bands at Bishop Guilfoyle High School in his hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania and at Falconer Central School in New York State. He also served for two years as percussion teacher for the American Wind Symphony’s educational outreach programs in the Pittsburgh Area.

     Brian received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  He earned the Master of Music degree from Duquesne.

He has authored a music instruction book, recorded more than two dozen compact discs as a performer and soloist, and served as timpanist and percussionist at Chautauqua Institution and the Orchestra Sinfonico de Trujillo in Peru.  

     He has taught at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan, where he played principal timpani and percussion, and performed as a soloist with the International Youth Symphony Orchestra on a tour of Germany, Austria, and France.  Mr. T conducted the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp’s Southern Wind Ensemble, a group made up of talented high school students from across the United States, as they toured Italy, Germany, France, and Luxembourg. The band won First Prize at the DiffWinds International Band Competition in Differdange, Luxemborg. Other groups in the festival came from Ireland, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany and Latvia.

Mr. Tychinski continues to perform as a solo and freelance percussionist and enjoys playing the marimba. 

Mr. Andy Giles 

Mr. Andy Giles graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned his B.S in Music Education. This is his 6th year serving as assistant director. Mr. Giles plays locally with several different big bands, including the Glass City Swing Band and the Wally Gingers Orchestra. He is a member of Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), Buglers Across America, and the International Trumpet Guild (ITG). Mr. Giles currently teaches middle school band at Wendover Middle School. He and his wife live with their daughters Lucy and Ellie in Hopwood, PA. 

Mrs. Nancy Flinner

Assistant Director, Mrs. Nancy Flinner serves on the faculty of West Hempfield Middle School where she directs the 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Choruses, Select Ensemble, teaches General Music, and is the faculty advisor and instructor of the WHMS Color Guard Club.  Before becoming an Assistant Director, Mrs. Flinner served as a summer staff member for several years with the Hempfield Band.

She holds a B.S. in Music Education from Edinboro State University and has completed post baccalaureate studies at Duquesne University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Flinner is a member of Pennsylvania Music Educator Association (PMEA), and Westmoreland County Music Educators Association (WCMEA). As the Director of Music at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in West Point, she conducts two hand bell choirs, two vocal choirs, special ensembles, and performs as a vocal soloist.

Ms. Ali Troutman

Ms. Ali Troutman is a 2016 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing. During her time at IUP she was the Captain and President of the Crimson Twirlers, who achieved the title of Pennsylvania State Small Group Dance Twirl Champions in 2014. Ms. Troutman has been twirling for 21 years, and coaching for 7 years. This will be her 5th year working with the Hempfield Bandfront and 4th year being the Assistant Coach. She presently coaches the Junior Varsity Majorettes during their Indoor Competition Season who were the 2017 Cambria County Champions.

Kim Haile

Kim Haile is in her 14th year of teaching at Hempfield Area Senior High School. She is very proud to be teaching at her alma mater (Class of 1989). As a student at Hempfield, Mrs. Haile participated in marching band as a majorette. She was very

pleased to become Spartan Marching Band's Bandfront Director. She is looking forward to another rewarding year. She says, "This is a wonderful group of talented, polite, and well-rounded young people. The staff and band parents have also been a pleasure to work with."

Mrs. Haile has a total of 40 years combined experience as both a student and a teacher of dance, baton twirling, and colorguard. She has taught students from the age of three to high school students. 

Mrs. Haile received her Bachelor Degree in Psychology, Teaching Certifications, and Masters in Special Education from Seton Hill University. She is especially proud that she has been able to share the band experience with her own children.