By Joan C. McKinney, director, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Dr. Corey Bonds, a two-time Campbellsville University graduate, is the new director of bands at the university as well as serving as an assistant professor of music.
Bonds, who has been employed at Campbellsville University since 2014, will oversee all operations for the band program including directing the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Tiger Marching Band and Tiger Pep Band. He will continue to teach undergraduate and graduate conducting courses, as well as instrumental music education courses as needed.
“We congratulate Dr. Bonds on his new role as CU director of bands. I have the uttermost confidence in his leadership skills to lead such an important area in our School of Music,” Dr. Tony Cunha, dean of the School of Music, said.
“We are thankful for his hard work and dedication to our students in his tenure at CU.”
“I am very excited about my new role at CU,” Bonds said. “I am blessed, honored and humbled to receive this opportunity. I am thankful for the administration’s bestowed confidence.”
Bonds said, “Change will inevitably occur as time passes, but I do not intend to initiate great change immediately. I simply want to be observant, expect much of myself and expect much of our students.”
Bonds said he does hope to expand each concert ensemble’s relationship with the broader art of wind band music by working with current composers, commissioning brand new works, traveling for concert tours and producing recordings.
“Ultimately, I pray for the Lord to lead in each of these and every other aspect of the program,” Bonds said.
“By far, the one thing I love most about working at CU is connecting with the students,” he said. “This university, School of Music and band program have each meant so much to me since my days as a student.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to impact students’ lives in a positive, Christ-centered environment. My family loves to invest our time into the students. And we look forward to doing so in an even greater capacity in this new role.”
Bonds and his wife, Katherine Vinson Bonds, a 2018 Associate of Science graduate in Christian Studies from Campbellsville University, have three children: Paxton, Parker and Price.
Bonds received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Campbellsville University in 2005 and a Master of Music in Music Education in 2007. He received his Doctoral of Music Arts in Wind Band Conducting from the University of Kentucky in 2020. His dissertation was on “Steven Bryant’s The Automatic Earth: A Conductor’s Analysis and Performance Perspectives.”
Bonds has served as assistant director of bands at Campbellsville University since 2014.
He started his career in 2006 when he became assistant director of bands for Allen County Schools. In 2007, he became director of bands for Glasgow Independent Schools. He stayed there until his employment with Campbellsville University in 2014.
Bonds is the worship leader at Campbellsville Baptist Church where he has served since 2020. Previously, he was minister of music at Greensburg Baptist Church from 2015 until 2020.
Bonds is a member of the following professional organizations: National Association for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association and Music Teachers National Association and Kentucky Music Teachers Association.
Bonds is the son of Sharon and Jerry Bonds of Scottsville, Ky.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 13,500 students offering over 100 programs of study including Ph.D., master, baccalaureate, associate, pre-professional and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.