Previously, Herb Payung served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Elon University where he was involved with all aspects of the athletic band program and conducted the Concert Band. At the onset of his career, he taught instrumental music in eastern Pennsylvania. During his six years in public education, Payung conducted high school concert bands, jazz ensembles, pit orchestras, and marching bands and taught courses in instrumental music and jazz improvisation. He also served as an elementary band director as well as brass and percussion instructor at the middle school level.

Payung holds music degrees from Penn State University (BME, MM Wind Conducting), Boston University (MM Music Education) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison (DMA Wind Conducting). His primary conducting teachers include Scott Teeple of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Dennis Glocke of Penn State University.

Payung is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, the National Association for Music Education, the American Federation of Musicians, and Pi Kappa Lambda, Music Honor Society.