Stebbins High SChool and Mad River Middle Music Educators

Alex Lindon

Stebbins High School Director of Bands

Mr. Alex Lindon is the Director of Bands at Stebbins High School. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wright State University in 2014 and later completed a Master of Music Performance degree in 2017. During his time at Wright State, Mr. Lindon studied with Dr. Daniel Zehringer, Dr. Shelley Jagow, Dr. Jackson Leung, Dr. Hank Dahlman, and Dr. David Booth. He was recognized with the Charles R. Spinney Composition Award and was inducted into the leadership fraternity Omicron Delta Kappa. In 2024, he was also honored as an Honorary Inductee into the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity at Wright State University’s Theta Eta Chapter.

Mr. Lindon began his teaching career in 2015 while still attending Wright State University. During his master’s program, he helped create an after-school music program at the Dayton Regional STEM School. What began as a single performing group quickly expanded into three ensembles, including opportunities for solo performances.

In 2019, Mr. Lindon became the Assistant Band Director for Stebbins High School and Mad River Middle School. He was named Director of Bands at Stebbins High School in 2021. Under his leadership, the program has made multiple appearances at the Bands of America Grand National Championships and has set several school records for finals performances. The band was also named a finalist at the BOA Central Ohio Regional in 2021 and the MSBA AAAA Championships in 2025.

In his spare time Alex continues to perform trumpet in multiple ensembles Including an Associate Trumpet in the Mason Symphony Orchestra & Principal Trumpet in the Springboro Wind Symphony. He also performs throughout the Dayton area for musicals and jazz performances. 

Mr. Lindon is incredibly grateful for the support of his family, friends, colleagues, and mentors. He credits much of his success as an educator to the outstanding guidance and education he received at Wright State University. A native of Middletown, Mr. Lindon currently resides in Dayton with his wife and two children.

Band news

Amy Hall

Director of Orchestras

Mrs. Amy M. Hall, Director of Orchestras and Mad River Middle School Choirs in Mad River Local Schools, is thrilled to be part of the music department teaching team at Stebbins and
Mad River Middle School! She brings her expertise teaching strings and choir and celebrates the growth and musical development of each child.

Mrs. Hall, a native of Dayton, earned a Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of
Violin Performance degrees from Wright State University (2004, BS), and a Master of Science in
Music Education degree from the University of Dayton (2010, MME). Her nearly 20 years of
experience in the classroom have included general music, adaptive music, orchestra, and choir
courses in public and parochial schools as well as the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s
successful after school program Q the Music.

Mrs. Hall's students regularly participate in Ohio's District XII OMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest annually receiving "SUPERIOR"; (I) ratings. Many of her students are members
of Dayton Junior Strings, Dayton Youth Strings Orchestra, the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the OMEA Southwest Regional Orchestra as well as the OMEA district XII Honor
Choir. Students also continually participate in Wright State University's annual String Festival.
In 2022, Mrs. Hall was honored as Mad River Middle School's Teacher of the Year. She
resides in Kettering with her husband and son.

Orchestra

Christina Smith

Director of Choirs

Christina Smith is currently the Director of Choirs for Mad River Local Schools in Riverside where she directs Symphonic Choir, Concert Choir, Treble Choir and Bella Voci at Stebbins High School.  Choirs under her direction have traveled around the Miami Valley, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, New York, Nashville and Florida. 

Mrs. Smith is a graduate of Bowling Green State University where she studied with Richard Mathey, Andreas Poulimenous, and Eugene Dybdahl.  An active performer, Christina has sung such roles as “Maria” in West Side Story, “Narrator” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, “Esther Smith” in Meet Me in St. Louis, “Maria Rainier” in The Sound of Music and “Miss Hannigan” in Annie.  She also has directed several musicals for Stebbins High School, Kettering, Beavercreek, and Normandy UMC in Centerville. 

In addition to her responsibilities at Stebbins, Mrs. Smith is the Artistic Director and Concert Choir Director for the Kettering Children’s Choir. Based at Wright State University, the KCC rehearses weekly on Tuesdays and performs with such local arts organizations as the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dayton Ballet, and the Dayton Bach Society.  

A member of the Ohio Music Education Association for the past thirty years, Mrs. Smith served a two-year term as State Secretary and has served as the President of District 12.  She is a busy adjudicator and has served as a member of the editorial board for the state journal TRIAD as well as the choral committee for the 2007 and 2010 State Conferences.

Choir

Brendin Gillem

Stebbins High SChool Assistant Director of bands

Mr. Gillem is the Assistant Director of Bands at Stebbins High School. Mr. Gillem graduated from Wright State University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, earning honors distinction. During his time at Wright State, Mr. Gillem studied with John Kurokawa, principal clarinetist of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Dr. Shelley Jagow and Dr. David Booth.

While at Wright State, Mr. Gillem was recognized with the Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association’s Promising Young Music Educator Award. He was also an active member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, where he served as Fraternity Education Officer, Vice President, and President.

Mr. Gillem began his teaching career during his time at Wright State University and joined the Stebbins band staff in the summer of 2022. He served on a supplemental contract until the 2025–2026 school year, when he became a full-time member of the staff as Assistant Director of Bands at Stebbins High School.

Mr. Gillem is grateful for the support of his family and his wife, Gwen, who have played an essential role in his journey as an educator.

Kenneth Carpenter

Mad River Middle School Director of Bands

Mr. Carpenter is the Mad River Middle School Director of Bands, he is a graduate of Miami University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and studied with Mr. Gary Speck, Mr. Sam Reynolds, Dr. Brenda Mitchell and Dr. Jack Liles. Mr. Carpenter received his Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Dayton where he focused on educational research under the leadership of Dr. Linda Hartley.   

Mr. Carpenter started his teaching career in 1998 with the Bryan City School District where he taught instrumental and general music classes and was the assistant director of the Bryan High School Marching Band. In 2001, Mr. Carpenter became the Director of Bands at Carlisle High School. During his time at Carlisle, the band program received numerous Superior Ratings in marching band and concert band. In 2003, Mr. Carpenter received the Warren County Project Excellence Award for outstanding teaching. In 2006, the Carlisle Marching Band was a Semi-Finalist at the BOA Grand National Championships and placed 3rd in the nation in Class A.   

In 2008, Mr. Carpenter became the Stebbins High School Director of Bands. Now in his 10th year at Stebbins and 20th year of teaching, Mr. Carpenter has directed the Stebbins High School orchestra, concert band, symphonic band, and marching band to numerous superior ratings at the district, state, and national level. Symphonic Band has received praise for composers such as Mark Camphouse and David Holsinger for their superior rated performances at Dixie Classic Festivals and National Adjudicator Invitationals. Mr. Carpenter also directs the Stebbins High School Pep Band which performs throughout the year and was featured on the Today Show and Good Morning America for their national televised performances during the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. In addition to the pep band, Mr. Carpenter is the director of the Stebbins pit orchestra for the spring musical. Under Mr. Carpenter's direction, the pit orchestra has received multiple DayTony Awards of Merit and Excellence for outstanding theater performances in the Dayton area.  For the last 10 years, Mr. Carpenter has been the OMEA Solo and Ensemble Adjudicated Event Chair for District XII.    

Mr. Carpenter has been recognized by the city of Riverside Chamber of Commerce for his enthusiasm towards the community and his students.  Bands and orchestras under Mr. Carpenter’s direction have performed and toured Washington D.C., Orlando, Florida, Miami, Florida, Richmond, Virginia, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and New York City. Mr. Carpenter is a frequent guest clinician and consultant for Dayton area bands and is a native of Beavercreek, Ohio where he resides with his wife and two sons.  

 

 

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