Leslie W. Hicken, Professor Emeritus and the Charles E. Daniel Professor of Music, taught on the faculty of Furman University from the fall of 1993 until his retirement in 2019. Within the music department, his responsibilities included the directorship of the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble; professor of music education and instrumental conducting; and Assistant Director with the Marching Band. He was also the Director of the Furman Music by the Lake Concert Series and the Lakeside Concert Band. Currently, Dr. Hicken is the Artistic Director of the Carolina Youth Symphony and Co-Director of the Poinsett Wind Symphony. This academic year, he will be a Visiting Professor at Clemson University as conductor of their Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his appointment at Furman, Hicken was the Director of Bands at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. Previously, Hicken was employed as an instrumental music teacher in the Durham (NC) County School system. He began his musical career serving as a clarinetist in the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, NY. In 2002, he was elected into the American Bandmasters Association. In the spring of 2010, he was inducted into the South Carolina Band Directors Association Hall of Fame. He is Past-President of the South Carolina Band Directors Association and the Southern Division of the College Band Directors National Association. In 2015, he received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities organization. Dr. Hicken received his Bachelor of Performance degree from the Eastman School of Music, a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Doctorate in Music Education from Indiana University.