With great sadness, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival announces the death of Maestro Bruce Dinkins, who conducted the Cumberland Orchestra and taught clarinet at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival for 27 years. Thousands of people have been shaped by Bruce’s extraordinary career as a musician and an educator, and we will deeply miss him as a colleague and friend. Our hearts go out to his wife Hildy and their children, Jordan and Adam. The 2011 Season of the Festival was dedicated to his memory, and we will announce additional ways to honor his memory during the upcoming year.
Bruce Dinkins served as conductor and director of bands at James Bowie High School in Austin, Texas, since 2001, during which time he added a significant list of accomplishments to the band’s accolades. They earned the “Sweepstakes” award from the University Interscholastic League in concert and marching every year since he arrived. The Bowie Band was the Grand National Champion at the Smokey Mountain Music Festival, the National Adjudicators Invitational, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona National Band Championship in Phoenix, and among the top twelve bands at the Bands of America Grand Nationals competition in Indianapolis. They also carry the elite honor of being a recipient of the coveted Sudler Shield awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
An educator for more than 30 years, Dinkins’ groups have been heard at the Southern Division Music Educators National Conference, the Southern Regional College Band Directors Association/National Band Association conference, the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Chicago and Indianapolis, and invitational music festivals at the University of Kentucky, the University of Florida, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of South Florida and the University of South Carolina. In 2000, his band performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and he had the distinction of being the only four time recipient of the honor band award for the National Adjudicators Invitational Festivals.
Dinkins attended the University of Tampa, the New England Conservatory, the Juilliard School, the Florida State University, and the Harvard University. Before joining the faculty at Bowie High School, he was a member of the faculties at Irmo High School in South Carolina, North Gwinnett High School, Emory University, Georgia State University in Georgia, and Florida Community College in Jacksonville. He has performed with the Atlanta Chamber Orchestra, the Macon Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Florida Orchestra. His orchestra conducting experience included Conductor/Music Director of the Memphis Youth Symphony, the South Carolina Youth Philharmonic and twenty seven years as Conductor of the Cumberland Orchestra at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.
He was a member of the Phi Beta Mu American Bandmasters Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.
RIP Bruce Dinkins … I went from a student to a colleague over the 18 years time I knew him. He was the driving force for me to be a musician and the person I emulate as a teacher.
He was a true leader anf inspired all his students
Bruce was the reason I got to attend Sewanee the summer of 2002. With out his guidance and genuine belief that I could be a great musician I would have never pushed myself the succeed. He will always be one of my most influential people in my life. I know he touched so many lives and his legacy will live on forever.
The one and only Maestro. I am going to miss you my friend.
Mr. Dinkins was a wonderful person. I cared for his children when they came to Sewanee for the Summer Music Festival. He gave everything he had to his children and his love for music. I am still in disbelief that this has happen. It was just last Friday I received a big hug and kiss on the cheek from Mr. Dinkins. My heart goes out to his wife, Jordan, and Adam. Sewanee will not be the same without them.
Mr.Dinkins was a very special person. I got to know him quite well over my four years at SSMF. He changed me from an inexperienced and undisciplined musician into the hard worker I am today. He was very tough,but loving at the same time. I am grateful for all the moments I got to share with him and I know I would be nowhere near the level I’m at today without his guidance. The music world has lost a great educator,and the world has lost a great man. I’ll cherish my memories from my time playing under him at SSMF. RIP the amazing Maestro Dinkins.
I am without words right now. Bruce Dinkins is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to music. He was probably my biggest inspirations in my musical life, and in my life in general. He put so much passion into rehearals, and showed us how music is done in the real world, and then outside of rehearsal he was so kind, and he knew who you were, where you were from. He made my two summers at Sewanee so much better. RIP Maestro Dinkins.
RIP, Mr. Dinkins! You will forever hold a special place in my heart!
Godspeed to the most extraordinary Maestro Dinkins. You’re taking a piece of my heart with you. North Gwinnett Booster, ’92-’95.
Mr Dinkins will truly be missed. He inspired so many to be the they could be. Never give up. He was a great man. North Gwinnett class of 1993
He was easily my favorite teacher, so passionate about his endeavors and a father figure as well. He will be sorely missed and never forgotten.
Bruce Dinkins was a teacher’s teacher. I enjoyed attending his rehearsals and watching him teach. He always was teaching. My favorite concert was a concert with the Cumberland Orchestra when he programmed 4 or 5 overtures. After that concert, the students could easily change from simple to compound time, change tempi and dynamics etc. Brilliant. He will be missed.
As a parent I was blessed for the influence he had on my daughter, Kelley Flannigan Hardy. That influence had many affects on her life besides her becoming a music major. His passing is our loss and Heaven’s gain. My thoughts and prayers are with Hildy, Jordan and Adam.
I was saddened and stunned to hear of Mr. Dinkins’ death. I easily recall his rehearsals during the 2002 season. Although I only worked with him for that one summer, he influenced who I am as a musician today. His legacy is amazing and he will never be forgotten. My prayers go out to his family that they find comfort in this difficult time.
It goes without saying that Bruce was an inspiration to all those that knew him. I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear of of his passing. He inspired me to be the best I could be and was a great friend too. His passion for music and teaching was contagious. He will sorely be missed.
Godspeed, Bruce.
Class of ’93 NGHS Suwanee, GA
I can not even begin to say how much Mr Dinkins shaped me as a musician, and a person. The lessons he taught went beyond music and into life and he was a force of nature to be sure. He is directly responsible for my love of music and my ability to succeed in it to this day. He will be sorely missed but I know his music will live on through the many lives he touched.
Thank you, Mr. Dinkins for all you have given me and so many others. Hildy, Jordan and Adam, my thoughts are with you.
Angela Pearl (Higgins)
Class of ’95 , North Gwinnett High School
SSMF ’93 &’94
Mr. Dinkins was one of the single biggest positive influences of my life. There are always times in young people’s lives where they come to a crossroads– often in middle school and early high school. He managed to reach thousands of young people in middle school and high school just as they were reaching these critical crossroads. He forever changed the people they became because of it. That was a special gift, and not just any person can do that. He introduced the idea (in sharp contrast with mainstream American culture) that mediocrity is a bad word and that good is not acceptable and is not the same as great. He demanded every day that each of his students be as great as he or she is capable of being. He never gave up and he never got tired enough to give in. It must have been absolutely exhausting for him. I will teach every day to honor his legacy in the hope that I can pass along the very important lessons he so generously passed along to me.
Laura Moye Minor
SSMF ’95, ’96, ’99, ’00
South Carolina Youth Philharmonic ’97, ’98, ’99
I have just learned this sad new.
I am very upset by this event.
I have met him at twelve at the SSMF’09,’10, as a conductor. He taught me basics of orchestra and its spirit.
I share his family’s sorrow. I miss him a lot already.
Lucas Lefevre
SSMF’09,’10.
Mr. Dinkins influenced me profoundly, as well as other faculty and hundreds of students. A wonderful conductor and knowledgeable musician, he knew how to instruct high school students better than any other conductor I have ever worked with. His sayings (“use your B-R-A-N-E”), facial expressions, and lessons will stay with me for the rest of my life. One could not ask for a better introduction to orchestral performance than that which he provided.
It pains me greatly to think that future SSMF students will not be shaped by his knowledge and his teaching, but I am forever grateful for all of his work with us, to make us responsible and professional musicians. My condolences to his family during this difficult time.
It was my privilege to serve on the committee that unanimously selected Bruce Dinkins as conductor of the South Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He was a consummate leader in every respect, especially his personal example. Talking to teens and inspiring them to value excellence was his trademark as he encouraged them to work to succeed. In addition his musical abilities were outstanding, and his love of music and teaching were the combination through which he would touch the future of so many lives. His life has been a blessing to us, and our prayers are with his family as well as his extensive musical family.
Bruce Dinkins taught me more about music than anyone save my private teachers. I was so sorry to hear this news. I spent eight summers at Sewanee and he played a huge role in every single one of them. His was the first baton I ever played under. I am grateful that I came to call him a colleague, and sad for the legions of future students who will never get to learn from him. Thank you, Bruce, for everything.
My absolute favorite photo is of Mr. Dinkins and I rushing to a concert in SSMF. It was a wonderful candid photo but it truly captued so many feelings. My life, as countelss others, has been so profoundly impacted by Mr. Dinkins and all that he was to so many people. An absolute love of learning and a passion for life. He represented all that education should be. My greatest hope and challenge was and will continue to be-to never disappoint him.
Karen Franklin McColman
NGHS Band 1989-1992
SSMF 1990-1991
As fans and volunteers for the Sewanee Summer Music Festival for many years, we admired Bruce for many reasons, and were especially delighted in the way he worked with the new students. Bruce could coax a grand concert out of the youngest students, and it was clear that they loved him. I hope that his family finds some comfort in the fact that he was a beloved teacher, as well as a great musician.
Your passing has come as a huge shock to all that knew you. For the past three years, since my daughter started HS you proved once and again the importance of greatness and time in each one of our kids, as well as their parents. Just as my youngest daughter started with you this summer, you showed her nothing but the best of music, responsability, unity and affection. Rebecca looked forward to many more years with you both at SSMF, and at Bowie. Movement camp, just two weeks ago was so great for them, but you planted that seed both in their hearts and in their minds, and your direction in music will go on forever. Rebecca’s last memory of you was just last week, after her lesson with Mr. Armstrong, you gave her a big kiss and hug and told her you would look out for her starting today at SSMF. I am sure you will from where you are. We love you, and will miss you greatly!!
My husband and I are truly sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. All who knew him have lost a great friend and a fine example of what music is all about. I first played for him at Emory University over twenty-five years ago as a ringer because he had no tuba player. My decision to play for him was one of the best decisions of my life. His love of people and music, and his unending enthusiam, were all contagious. He pushed us all farther than any of us thought we could go and made us better than we had any right to believe we could be. I’ve never played for a finer conductor or a finer man and find it hard to believe I ever will. I don’t think I’d still be playing after all these years had not been for him. Our hearts go out to Hildy and their children. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
I am crushed by this news! Bruce was not only a personal friend but was a teacher and mentor of my son, Jace Herring (Irmo High School principal flutist and SSMF alumna) who passed away on December 25, 2010. I am comforted by the thought that they are playing together once again! I will miss you Bruce!
Bruce was a mentor, colleague, and close friend. The band and orchestra world will sadly miss you Bruce. Thanks for the many great concerts you conducted. Thanks for the countless memories you gave to your students. Thanks for the inspiration you gave to us all. Rest in God’s eternal peace.
Bruce was a shining light and great educator, enspiring and shaping countless young musicians. As if that was not enough, he was a wonderful human being. Hildy, Jordan and Adam, you are in the Wroten’s hearts and prayers.
Reading the comments posted by Bowie High School students and boosters brought back many memories of Mr. Dinkins. He was the same when I knew him at Sewanee twenty years ago! Always able to get more out of his students than they knew that they could give. The first time I remember really enjoying playing in an orchestra was under his direction. And, you always knew that he cared about you, even during his outbursts! Thanks, Mr. Dinkins for sharing your heart and your commitment to excellence with me.
You were one of the greatest influences on my life, and I will treasure every memory I have being a part of your orchestra. You were an outstanding individual and I miss you everyday. Thank you for teaching me all that you did.