Directors

Mr. Hatley, Director of Bands at Southeast Alamance High School
Mr. Hatley, Director of Bands at Southeast Alamance High School
Dylan Hatley, Director of Bands performing at 2019 WGI Indoor Percussion Finals with Fusion Percussion
Performing at 2019 WGI Indoor Percussion Finals with Fusion Percussion

Mr. Dylan Hatley

Director of Bands
SE Alamance High School

     Dylan Hatley, a native of Albemarle, North Carolina, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in Music. Prior to becoming the director of bands at Southeast, Mr. Hatley performed with the UNC-Charlotte “Pride of Niner Nation” Marching Band and worked with the band programs in Cabarrus County, specifically Mt. Pleasant High School and Concord High School. 

      Mr. Hatley was named director of bands prior to the opening of the school in August of 2023, and leads the Marching Stallions, Concert Band, and Percussion Ensemble. Under his direction, the Marching Stallions has increased in membership from 18 to 68 in his three seasons and has accrued numerous accolades in all categories and captions in regional competitions. Additionally, the Concert Band program has received a superior rating at MPA each of his first two years and students from SEHS have qualified for District and State Honor Bands.

     Mr. Hatley lives in Graham and specializes in the areas of music composition and percussion.

Mrs. Payne, Director of Bands at Hawfields MS
Mrs. Payne, Director of Bands at Hawfields MS
Mrs. Payne performing at a wedding in January 2020
Performing at a wedding in January 2020

Mrs. Jennifer Payne

Director of Bands
Hawfields Middle School

     Jennifer Payne, a native of Wake Forest, NC, is the Director of Bands at Hawfields Middle School in Mebane, NC, where she has led the program for the past 20+ years. She earned both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Music Education from UNC Greensboro and has completed additional post-graduate coursework. While at UNCG, Mrs. Payne was also a NC Teaching Fellow. Mrs. Payne has had the privilege of studying Saxophone under Dr. Steven Stusek, conducting under Dr. John Locke and music education under Dr. Jennifer Walter and Dr. Arris Golden. 

     Mrs. Payne is the lead middle school band director for Alamance-Burlington Schools with the largest middle school band program in the county. Under her direction, her bands have earned superior ratings at Concert Band and Solo and Ensemble festivals and top scoring band of the day. Mrs. Payne has consistently placed students on the ABSS All-County Band, Central District All-District Band and NC All-State Honors Band, including first chair positions in all. In addition to teaching students, she has hosted several student teachers and high school interns to help prepare the next generation of music educators in North Carolina.

     She is a member of Women Band Directors International, where she currently serves on the Commission Committee to honor Gladys Stone Wright. She also holds memberships in the National Association for Music Education, NC Bandmasters Association, and Central District Bandmasters Association. She was a founding member of the Hawfields Middle School PBIS team and has presented county-wide trainings for middle and high school band directors.

     Professionally, she performs regularly in local musicals and churches on woodwinds, brass and percussion, as well as with the Company Shops Community Band in Burlington, NC. She has served as the Music Director for the Mebane Acting Company. Mrs. Payne grew up in Wake Forest, NC and is proud alumni of the Wake Forest- Rolesville Marching Cougars, WFR Jazz Band and Pit Orchestra. While not teaching, Mrs. Payne enjoys spending time with her husband, Ron, 2 sons, Aiden and Aaron, and 2 cats, reading and learning to draw and paint. Mrs. Payne is a proud music educator and Southeast Stallion mom to Aiden (SEHS Class of 2028, Euphonium).