Denis Swope
Director of Bands

Denis Swope graduated from the University of Missouri in 1989 with a Bachelors Degree in Education. Following a year of teaching part-time, he accepted the position of Director of Bands with the Marceline School District in Marceline, Missouri.  After two years, he returned to the University of Missouri for graduate work in conducting, and completed a Masters Degree in 1994.  Denis then served as Associate Director of Bands at Moberly High School
for six years.  

Denis has been at Hickman High School since 2000, and has been Director of Bands since 2012.  He shares the responsibilities of the band program including four concert bands, marching band, and jazz ensembles.  The Hickman Wind Ensemble has appeared three times on the MMEA conference while Denis has been at Hickman.  During his tenure at Hickman he has also taught 'Jazz Pop and Rock' and 'Introduction to Music' classes as well as two levels of Music Theory.  In addition, Denis has instructed beginning trumpet, baritone and tuba classes at Smithton Middle School. 
 
Denis is a member of Missouri Bandmasters Association (a Past-President), MMEA, NAfME, and Phi Beta MU.  Mr. Swope has also served as the Northeast Missouri Music Educators Association President, and as Vice President for Jazz.  Denis is married to Julie Swope and has four children, Mackenzie, Brett, Evan and Mia.

Tom Sweeney
Associate Director of Bands

Tom Sweeney began working in the Columbia Public School District in 2001 and has been the Associate Director of Bands at Hickman High School since 2012. He shares the responsibilities of four concert bands, marching band, and jazz ensembles.  He also is in charge of the basketball pep band and the pit orchestra. During his tenure at Hickman he has also taught the "Jazz, Pop, and Rock" music appreciation class, as well as high brass classes at various CPS Middle Schools. Previously Tom was Director of Bands at West Junior High in Columbia (2007-2013). In 2009 the West Junior High Viking Band performed at the MMEA conference, under his direction. The Hickman HS Wind Ensemble also performed at MMEA while Tom has been at Hickman. Prior to his position at West JH, Tom was the Director of Bands at Oakland Junior High in Columbia (2001-2007).

Tom is a native of Iowa and earned his B.M.E. at Morningside College ('86), Sioux City, IA. He received his M.A. in Music Education from the University of Central Missouri ('01). Tom began his teaching career at Southwest Livingston County R-1 S.D., Ludlow MO, teaching K-12 Music (Vocal and Instrumental). During his career he also taught; grades 6-12 instrumental music in Higginsville, MO (Lafayette County C-1 S.D.), grades 5-12 vocal and instrumental music in Leeton, MO; and was an assistant band director at Bellevue West H.S. in Bellevue, NE. 

Tom is a member of MMEA, NAfME, MBA, MSTA, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.  He is a Past-President for the Northeast Missouri Music Educators Association.  Tom is married to Beth Sweeney and has two children; Michael and Megan, and two grandsons; Calvin and Ben.

ADDITIONAL STAFF

Jeff Moorman, Julie Swope
- Staff

Jennifer Randolph &
Jessica Ruud
- Color Guard Instructors

Jordan Nielsen & 
- Percussion Instructors