Music Program

Mr. Kevin Tinkle is in his first year at Central Unified as the Director of Bands at Justin Garza High School. Prior to this position he was the Director of Instrumental Music at American Union Elementary and Assistant Director of Bands at Washington Union High School in the Washington Unified School District in Fresno. Before employment at Washington Unified, he started his career as the Director of Bands at Selma High School for nine years where his groups received numerous Superior ratings at CMEA Concert and Jazz Festivals as well as many high achievement awards from the Western Bands Association, SJVCGPR, and WGI. 

He received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education at San Diego State University and his single-subject teaching credential at CSU Sacramento. While studying at San Diego State University, Mr. Tinkle was a member of the Marching Aztecs, Jazz Band A, was principal trumpet in the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, as well as principal bass in Chamber Singers. 

As a performer, Mr. Tinkle has marched with the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, participated in the International Jazz Festival in Hawaii, and been part of numerous honor groups in California. He also plays guitar and has performed throughout California as a singer-songwriter and leader of various bands. 

Mr. Tinkle is currently finishing his M.A. in Music Education at the American Band College of Central Washington University. In his free time, Mr. Tinkle enjoys listening to music, collecting records, writing songs, and spending time with his wife Emily and twin daughters, Grace and Elizabeth.