The Empty Chair: Amarillo’s Orchestra Weeps for David Hinds

An Unresolved Cadence: The Sudden Silence of a Maestro

The music community in Amarillo and across Texas is struck silent, reeling from the sudden, unexpected loss of David Hinds. A composer, conductor, and educator whose life was a beautiful symphony of mentorship and melody, David’s abrupt departure is an unresolved cadence—a musical theme cut short with a devastating finality.

It is particularly heartbreaking when a talent so vital to the artistic soul of a community is extinguished without warning. David Hinds was a man of rhythm and precision, yet his own life was taken by an event that was chaotic and unfair. For his current students, the realization that their conductor’s podium is empty is a sharp, painful trauma. For his family, the loss of his voice, his humor, and his presence leaves a silence far heavier than any rest note. We are left only with the echo of the beautiful sounds he created and the profound sadness that the final, most important movement of his life was never heard.

A Symphony of Mentorship: David’s Legacy Beyond the Notes

David Hinds was far more than his impressive titles as a published composer, symphony player, and college orchestra director. He was a teacher in the truest sense—a patient, dedicated mentor whose real genius lay in drawing music out of young hearts. He understood that a piece of music is only as good as the passion of the ensemble, and he tirelessly worked to foster that passion in every student, from middle school strings to the collegiate chamber orchestra.

His legacy resides not just in the compositions listed on state contest lists, but in the countless students who pursued their musical dreams because of his encouragement. He taught not just technique, but the discipline, teamwork, and emotional depth required to make great art. Every young musician who finds joy in a perfect harmonic chord or a well-executed passage in Amarillo carries a piece of David Hinds’s teaching—a legacy that will continue to resonate for generations.

Finding Harmony in Grief: Supporting the Music Family

In this difficult time, the community David Hinds helped harmonize must now rally to support his loved ones. The void left by a great musician is felt acutely by the entire orchestra family. This means offering solace, not just to his immediate family, but to the generations of students and colleagues who considered him their guide and friend.

We must honor David Hinds by ensuring his commitment to music education endures. May the collective sound of the Amarillo Symphony, the Amarillo College orchestras, and every student ensemble he ever directed act as a tribute to his life. Though our hearts are broken, we find comfort in the beautiful, enduring music he left behind.