Henderson State to host Honor Band clinic, jazz concerts Nov. 18-19

More than 180 outstanding high school musicians from Arkansas and Texas will gather at Henderson State University Nov. 18-19 for the university's Honor Band Clinic, featuring performances by two honor bands and Henderson's brass and newly formed jazz ensembles.

The Jazz I and Jazz II ensembles will perform Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m., followed by the Honor Band concert Thursday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. Both performances will take place in Arkansas Hall on the Henderson campus.

The HSU Honor Bands will perform under the direction of guest conductors, with HSU brass ensembles, directed by Dr. Jamie Lipton and Dr. Heather Thayer, opening Thursday's concert.

The Honor Band program features two ensembles: the HSU Honor Wind Symphony and the HSU Honor Symphonic Band. Students are nominated by their directors and selected based on musical honors, including All-Region, All-Area and All-State recognition.

Dr. Joseph Missal, director of bands emeritus at Oklahoma State University, will conduct the Honor Wind Symphony. Missal served as OSU's director of bands for 35 years and is a sought-after clinician throughout the United States.

The Honor Symphonic Band will be conducted by HSU alumnus Dillion Davis, director of bands at Redwater High School in Redwater, Texas. Under Davis' leadership, the Redwater High School Band has earned numerous honors, including the UIL Sweepstakes Award and qualification for the UIL State Marching Contest.

Wednesday's jazz concert will feature the premiere performances of the newly formed HSU Jazz I and Jazz II ensembles.

Jazz II, directed by Nevada Mills, will open the concert. Jazz I, directed by Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame member Gary Meggs, will feature guest trumpet soloist Mike Williams, who performed as lead trumpet with the Count Basie Orchestra for 31 years.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Williams began playing trumpet at age 13 and earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Northwestern State University, where he studied with Dr. J. Robert Smith. He later studied at the University of North Texas and performed as lead trumpet in its One O'Clock Lab Band.

After touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Williams joined the Count Basie Orchestra in 1987. During his 31 years with the ensemble, he recorded 25 CDs and DVDs, including three Grammy-winning recordings, and performed in all 50 states and 55 countries. Williams continues to perform, teach and appear as a guest soloist and clinician.

During the jazz concert, HSU will honor Dr. Earl Hesse, a longtime HSU professor who directed Jazz I for many years and helped build the university's jazz program into regional and national prominence. HSU alumnus C.E. Askew, retired director of the U.S. Air Force's premier jazz ensemble, the Airmen of Note, will also be present to receive special recognition.

For more information, contact Monty Hill, Henderson State University director of bands, at [email protected].