Michael Hancock
Dr. Michael Hancock is Director of Bands at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where he conducts the renowned Frost Wind Ensemble, leads the graduate instrumental conducting program, and oversees the concert and athletic ensembles within the Frost Bands Area.
A strong advocate for inclusive and collaborative music-making, Dr. Hancock’s career bridges professional and educational settings across a wide range of ensemble styles. His work often involves partnerships with visual artists, actors, composers, and soloists, and his ensembles are known for championing contemporary music. They’ve earned praise from leading composers such as Michael Colgrass, Michael Daugherty, Zhou Tian, Paul Dooley, Jessica Meyer, Joel Puckett, and James Stephenson, and have performed at major conferences including College Band Directors’ National Association, Oklahoma Music Educators Association, and Oklahoma Bandmasters Association.
Dr. Hancock began his career teaching in Arkansas and Texas public schools and remains committed to inspiring young musicians. He regularly serves as a guest conductor and clinician at State and Regional Honor Bands across the country, has presented at the Midwest Clinic and numerous state conferences, and will be a featured contributor to Rehearsing the Band, Vol. 4 (Meredith Music) in December.
He is excited and honored to return home to the Frost School of Music where he earned his DMA and MM under the mentorship of Gary Green. His studies also include a BM in Music Education from Arkansas Tech University, and orchestral conducting at the Conservatorium Maastricht in the Netherlands. Dr. Hancock is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, College Band Directors National Association, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and NAfME.
Craig S. McKenzie
Dr. Craig McKenzie is Associate Director of Bands / Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where he oversees the conducting and teaching of the Frost Symphonic Winds and the Frost “Band of the Hour” Marching Band.
Dr. McKenzie received his D.M.A. from the University of Miami, Frost School of Music where he studied instrumental conducting with Robert M. Carnochan. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Music with an emphasis in conducting from San José State University. His conducting mentors also include Edward C. Harris, Alan McMurray, Diana Hollinger, and Thomas Verrier.
With over 20 years of university, high school, and middle school teaching experience, Dr. McKenzie has previously held positions at Pioneer High School (Whittier, California), Abraham Lincoln High School (San Jose, California), and at San José State University.
From 2019-2024, he was the conductor of the San Francisco Brass Band, taking them to back-to-back first place performances in two different divisions of the North American Brass Band Association Championships: second section in 2023 and first section in 2024.
In 2023, Dr. McKenzie served as the Music Director and Principal conductor of the Golden Gate Park Band, San Francisco’s oldest professional musical organization.
Dr. McKenzie is the 2019 Grand Champion of the International Conducting Competition hosted by the National Association of Brass Band Conductors (now the Brass Band Conductors’ Association) in Eccles, England. As a result of his win, he was invited to guest conduct the Cory Band in 2020.
He enjoys returning to the San Bernardino mountains of California whenever possible to visit Arrowbear Music Camp where he directed the Intermediate Session Band from 2002—2019. He credits Arrowbear Music Camp with an influential portion of his musical education and attended as a camper in his childhood.
Sheldon A. McLean
Dr. Sheldon “MAC” McLean is an educator, conductor, clinician, and consultant specializing in the intersection of education, community, production, and entertainment. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Miami, where he helps shape the vision, visibility, and impact of the band program.
At the U, Dr. McLean’s value-add extends beyond music-making. In addition to preserving tradition, his role includes branding, recruitment strategy, and community engagement, collaborating with university departments and external partners to integrate the band meaningfully into the UMiami experience. Along with guest conducting Frost School of Music ensembles, he directs the University of Miami Pep Band, which performs at athletic events, university programs, admissions functions, and community engagements.
Dr. McLean also co-founded and directs The Sound Check Group, an award-winning consultancy and creative firm with a non-profit arm focused on expanding access to arts education, post-secondary success, and designing high-impact experiences that bridge community and entertainment. His background in performance, production, and strategy makes him a sought-after voice in both academic and industry settings.
Prior to his role at UM, he earned national recognition for his work as a music educator, ensemble director, and clinician, leading programs grounded in a community-first philosophy and a standard of excellence.
He holds a B.S. from Florida A&M University, an M.M.E. from the Florida State University, and a D.M.A. in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Miami.
