stephen l. ingram
Quote from the Director:
"The ghetto!" - Stephen Ingram
Director of Bands
Stephen Ingram is the band director of the Linden-McKinley Unstoppable Mighty Marching Panthers in Columbus, OH. He is a native of the South Side of Chicago and a graduate from Central State University. He also holds a Master of Music Education from Capital University. He has been the band director since 2017 and has grown to being one of the best in the entire city.
Mr. Ingram fell in love with music in high school (Hillcrest High School) where he became a drum major his senior year. Becoming a drum major led directly into his decision to major in music. He would graduate from high school and go on to Central State Invincible Marching Marauders. During his time, he was section leader of both the clarinet and saxophone section. Upon graduation from Central State University, he took a job working for Columbus City Schools as a band director at Linden-McKinley Stem Academy.
During his time at LMSA, the band has gone from about 12 members at the start to now having over 70 members. The Linden-McKinley band has won numerous awards and received various accolades in the last seven years, including first place in the Music Through the Streets Battle of the Bands, Southern Heritage Classic Battle of the Bands, Chicago High school Battle of the bands, Maple Heights Derby Band competition, Trotwood Madison High school battle of the bands, Classic for Columbus Battle of the Bands, and many more. Mr. Ingram and the Linden-McKinley Band have been featured in Who’s who in Black Columbus. The program has been able to send several kids to college on Band scholarships by them being involved in the band program. Mr. Ingram has built a program of success by students, staff and parents living by the motto "Keep raising the Bar until excellence becomes a habit" and this motto is the motor behind the success of the program.
Stephen Ingram is member of Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity Inc, Gamma Eta Chapter (Spring 2013)., the Negro Philharmonic Society (2014) and a member of
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc, Beta Omicron Sigma chapter (Fall 2022) and a member of Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity INC, Xi Lambda chapter (Fall 2025). Mr. Ingram has also received various awards throughout the community: The CEA Helen Jenkins Davis Award, Blue Sapphire Educator of the year of award. Mr. Ingram's mission of education is for students to always rise above challenges and succeed despite challenges and living above the narrative that surrounds our black youth.