Mr. Hipp has experience teaching music and directing various ensembles at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels. Originally from the Houston area, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master of Music in Jazz Composition from the University of South Florida. While completing his graduate work at USF, Mr. Hipp was a teaching assistant under Grammy-nominated composer and Guggenheim Fellow, Chuck Owen.

In addition to his educational background, Mr. Hipp’s performance experience is equally extensive and eclectic; he has performed in wind ensembles, jazz bands, orchestras, and theatre productions both inside and outside the academic environments. He also played guitar in the Austin-based punk-rock band Fly By Fire and performs on numerous woodwinds for ensembles in and around the Denver and Northern Colorado area.

When taking a break from his musical endeavors, Mr. Hipp can be found spending time with his wife, Jamie, his daughter, Evelyn, and his son, Watson. He is in avid board gamer/role player and has an ever-growing collection of over 150 modern board games. His other interests include tennis, basketball, and golf.