Austin Hilla, M.Ed., D.M.A.
Director of Bands and Percussion
Austin Hilla is the current Director of Bands and Percussion at Hillcrest High School. As the Head Director, he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Hillcrest Jazz I, is the founder of and instructional lead for the Hillcrest Marching Band, and fulfills other various teaching responsibilities, including teaching AP and IB Music courses and IB Theory of Knowledge. He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for high schools and middle schools along the Wasatch Front in Jazz and Concert Band idioms. Mr. Hilla has earned the Sandy City Outstanding Educator award and has been nominated for Teacher of the Year multiple times in his time at Hillcrest.
Prior to working at Hillcrest, he taught in the Houston Independent School District and in the Greater Houston Area, where he conducted concert bands and revived defunct jazz ensemble programs, and taught marching band. Bands and chamber groups under his direction have enjoyed artistic and personal success, with students earning superior ratings at district and state performance evaluations and earning historic area placements in marching band through Texas UIL.
Austin Hilla earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree with a concentration in Wind Conducting at The University of Utah as a student of Scott Hagen, Dr. Jared Rawlings, Dr. Rebekah Daniel, and Dr. Jason Missal, Director of Bands at The University of Utah. He completed his Bachelor of Musical Arts and Master of Education in Secondary Music degrees at Vanderbilt University where he studied with Mr. Gilbert Long on Tuba and Dr. Thomas Verrier in Conducting. As a graduate assistant with The University of Utah Bands, Mr. Hilla guest conducted the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band as well as coaching multiple chamber ensembles in classical and contemporary wind settings. Hilla has been the Director of Wind and Jazz Ensembles at Encore/Coda Music Camp in Sweden, Maine for the 2022 and 2024 Summer Sessions. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Utah Music Educators Association, Utah Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, the Association of Texas Small School Bands, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity.
He is a proud father to his four year old son, Gregory, and husband to Sarah Crass Hilla, a Leadershape Facilitator and Associate Director of Recruitment at the Eccles School of Business at The University of Utah. He is an avid coffee nerd, practicer of Hatha Yoga, cooking enthusiast, and music programming dork, listening to wind band music in his FREE TIME!
Zachary Clawson
Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion
Zachary Clawson is the director of Bands, Orchestras, and Percussion at Midvale Middle School, the director of bands at Union Middle School, and the Assistant Director of Bands at Hillcrest High School. Zach graduated from the University of Utah in 2024 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. While at The University of Utah, he studied percussion with Dr. Micheal Sammons, Kieth Carrick, Danny Soulier, and Kelly Wallis. He performed in the Wind Ensemble, Campus Symphony, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble as a Percussionist and Timpanist. He was also a member of the marching Utes and held a leadership position on the drum line for 2 years.
Zach has performed with many groups over his career as a musician. In 2023 at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Zach placed first place in the chamber division of the individual and ensemble competition along with Hillcrest Alum, Aidan Smith. He is a consistent attendant and performer at the Utah PAS Day of Percussion and performed a showcase concert with the University of Utah Percussion Ensemble in 2022. Zach has performed in the Tournament of Roses parade in Anaheim, California 3 times and many other BOA regional and Super regional events.
Zach has been a Utah Music Educators Association member since 2020 and has attended the annual conference every year since joining. He has a love for music and a passion for teaching. When not teaching, Zach enjoys camping, cooking, and spending time with his family and dog, Leo. He also enjoys movies, video games, and reading novels.
Ensembles
WInd Ensemble
The Varsity Concert Ensemble at Hillcrest.
Director: Dr. Austin Hilla
Assistant Director: Zachary Clawson
Concert band
The Non-Varsity Concert Ensemble at Hillcrest.
Director: Zachary Clawson, Dr. Austin Hilla
Hillcrest MarchinG chamber ensemble
Competitive Marching Ensemble at Hillcrest.
Director: Dr. Austin Hilla
Assistant Director/Percussion Head: Zachary Clawson
Colorguard Director: Chelsea Luhan
Technical Staff: Bjorn Swanson, Allie Nelson
Big Green Band (pep Band)
Pep Group for all members of Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Percussion Ensemble.
Director: Dr. Austin Hilla
Assistant Director: Zachary Clawson
percussion ensemble
The Varsity Percussion Group at Hillcrest.
Director: Zachary Clawson
intermediate percussion (Percussion Class)
An intro to high school Percussion for young musicians and interested students at Hillcrest.
Instructor: Zachary Clawson
Hillcrest Jazz I
The Varsity Jazz Ensemble at Hillcrest.
Director: Dr. Austin Hilla
Hillcrest jazz II
The Non-Varsity Jazz Ensemble at Hillcrest.
Director: Zachary Clawson
Hillcrest honors woodwind quintet
The Varsity Level Chamber Woodwind Ensemble at Hillcrest.
Coach: Dr. Austin Hilla
Hillcrest honors brass quintet
The Varsity Level Chamber Brass Ensemble at Hillcrest.
Coach: Dr. Austin Hilla
Hillcrest honors jazz combo
The Varsity Level Chamber Jazz Ensemble at Hillcrest.
Coach: Dr. Austin Hilla