Dana Hamant taught high school band for 30 years, including 17
years as the Performing Arts Department Chair at Wichita East
High School where he was Director of Bands. He then served as a
beginning band specialist in the Wichita Public Schools as well as
the Assistant Director of Bands at Friends University. During his
tenure, the East High Band consistently received superior ratings
at the Kansas State Large Group Festival and area marching
festivals. Under his direction, the East High Symphonic Band was
selected to perform at the 2000 and 2008 KMEA In-Service
Workshops and at the Disney Honors Festival in 2005. Prior to his
tenure at East, he taught in the Hutchinson public schools, Wichita
North, Wichita State University, and the Cimarron public schools.
After being named director following three years as an assistant, Mr. Hamant took the Kansas Lions International Band to conventions in Chicago, Detroit, Canada, Denver, Indianapolis, San Diego, and Honolulu. In July 2009, he served as co-director of the Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band and was active in the drum and bugle corps arena for a number of years as a performer, instructor, and administrator with corps from Kansas, Pennsylvania, and England. He was also active as an adjudicator for marching, concert, solo and ensemble festivals, and as an honor band conductor and clinician. As a professional trumpet player, performing credits include the Wichita Symphony, Wichita Wind Ensemble, Friends University Faculty Brass Quintet, Ballet Kansas, Wichita Grand Opera, Music Theatre of Wichita, Wichita Chamber Chorale, Hutchinson Symphony, and the Prairie Winds. He joined the Kansas/Kansas City Ambassadors of Music staff in 1978 eventually taking 30 trips to Europe as a conductor and performer.
He served as President of the Kansas Bandmasters Association for two years, state president of the International Association of Jazz Educators, chair of the KMEA Statewide Festival Jazz Band, President of the South Central District of KMEA and chair of the KMEA Festivals Committee, and Exhibits Manager for the KMEA In-Service Workshop. Mr. Hamant was selected to both Who's Who Among American Teachers and Outstanding American Teachers. He held memberships in the International Trumpet Guild, Phi Beta Mu, and the National Bandmasters Association. In 2006 Mr. Hamant was only the fourth Kansas band director named to the Legion of Honor by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. The National Federation of State High School Associations named him the Outstanding Music Educator for Kansas and five other Midwest states for the 2010-2011 school year. In January of 2012 he was named the recipient of the "Outstanding Music Educator National Citation Award" for the 2012-2013 school year by the NFHS, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
After being named director following three years as an assistant, Mr. Hamant took the Kansas Lions International Band to conventions in Chicago, Detroit, Canada, Denver, Indianapolis, San Diego, and Honolulu. In July 2009, he served as co-director of the Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band and was active in the drum and bugle corps arena for a number of years as a performer, instructor, and administrator with corps from Kansas, Pennsylvania, and England. He was also active as an adjudicator for marching, concert, solo and ensemble festivals, and as an honor band conductor and clinician. As a professional trumpet player, performing credits include the Wichita Symphony, Wichita Wind Ensemble, Friends University Faculty Brass Quintet, Ballet Kansas, Wichita Grand Opera, Music Theatre of Wichita, Wichita Chamber Chorale, Hutchinson Symphony, and the Prairie Winds. He joined the Kansas/Kansas City Ambassadors of Music staff in 1978 eventually taking 30 trips to Europe as a conductor and performer.
He served as President of the Kansas Bandmasters Association for two years, state president of the International Association of Jazz Educators, chair of the KMEA Statewide Festival Jazz Band, President of the South Central District of KMEA and chair of the KMEA Festivals Committee, and Exhibits Manager for the KMEA In-Service Workshop. Mr. Hamant was selected to both Who's Who Among American Teachers and Outstanding American Teachers. He held memberships in the International Trumpet Guild, Phi Beta Mu, and the National Bandmasters Association. In 2006 Mr. Hamant was only the fourth Kansas band director named to the Legion of Honor by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. The National Federation of State High School Associations named him the Outstanding Music Educator for Kansas and five other Midwest states for the 2010-2011 school year. In January of 2012 he was named the recipient of the "Outstanding Music Educator National Citation Award" for the 2012-2013 school year by the NFHS, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.