Dr. Jim Buckner (HSUTrumpets 1990 – 2022)

Jim_Buckner
Dr. Jim Buckner

Recordings

Dr. Jim Buckner Retirement Phto by Steve Fellers

Equipment

Dr. Jim Buckner is Professor of Trumpet at Henderson State University where he teaches trumpet, brass methods, and brass ensembles.  He is the first trumpet professor at Henderson to teach only trumpet.  In 2006 he was also in charge of the Band Camp.  Since 2008 he has served as Controller for the North American Brass Band Association Championships.

Buckner previously taught at Illinois State University, Quincy University, Western Carolina University, Truman State University, and West High School in Waterloo, Iowa.  In 2001 he received the Ellis College Fine Arts Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching.

He is principal trumpeter with the Arkansas Brass and the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and also performs with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.  He has been a member of Mass Brass and Percussion, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, and the Quincy Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Buckner has been featured with several orchestras, including the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (Neruda Concerto, Purcell Sonata), the Illinois Wesleyan University Chamber Orchestra (Shostakovitch Concerto for Piano, Trumpet, and Orchestra), the Quincy Symphony Orchestra (Arutunian Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra), and three times on the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Chamber Orchestra, and Northeast Missouri State University Festival Orchestra). He has been a featured soloist with school, college, and community bands throughout the South and Midwest..

In September, 1995 he performed a recital at the Moscow International Trumpet Festival.  Dr. Buckner was a member of the Mississippi River Brass Band and was named Outstanding Soloist, Championship Division, at the Fifth Annual North American Brass Band Championships in Columbus, Ohio.  While a member of the Smoky Mountain Brass Band, Dr. Buckner performed at the 1982 World’s Fair (Knoxville, TN), and he was a guest artist at the 1980 Trumpet Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

In April, 2012, Buckner played split lead trumpet with the Harry James Orchestra on a 10-day cruise.  As needed, he plays lead trumpet with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Big Band, the Real Band, and the Tom Tiratto Big Band.  He has also played several musicals, including Anything Goes (Arkansas Repertory Theater), Peter Pan (with Cathy Rigby), Titanic (national touring production), West Side Story, and Mame.  He directed the first jazz ensemble at Truman State University for two years in the late 1970’s.

Buckner received the Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education from Iowa State University, the Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan, and the Doctor of Music in Trumpet Performance from Northwestern University.

His teachers have included:
Arnold Jacobs, solo tuba, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Vincent Cichowicz, Northwestern University; second trumpet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Luther Didrickson, Northwestern University; first call trumpet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Susan Slaughter, principal trumpet, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Clifford Lillya, University of Michigan
Joseph Christensen, Iowa State University
Arthur Swift, Iowa State University

Bob Gower, High School Band Director, Charles City, Iowa
Eugene Martin, Orchestra director, Charles City, Iowa
Dennis Thornton, University of Iowa trumpet student from Charles City, Iowa
Roger Whitcomb, applied instructor, Charles City, Iowa
Leo Schula, elementary band director, Charles City, Iowa
Doris Schmarzo, trumpeter, Charles City, Iowa

Several trumpet players had a profound influence on his decision to pursue trumpet playing as a career:
Bobby Hackett, jazz cornetist
Bud Brisbois, former lead trumpet with Henry Mancini and Stan Kenton
Paul Smoker – Paul performed “The Painted Desert” by Earl Irons with with the high school band while I was in junior high — very impressive!
Clark Terry, jazz soloist
Doc Severinsen, trumpeter and band leader
Mike Vax, former lead trumpet with Stan Kenton and jazz soloist

Dr. Jim Buckner and Mike Vax

“One of the most influential people in my life was Bud Brisbois, a phenomenal high note trumpeter.  Brisbois was soloist with my high school band and jazz band during my junior year.  He was such an exciting musician and great person that I was inspired to pursue the trumpet for a career.”

In addition to his trumpet students at Henderson State University, he has had a number of other fine students.

Allen Vizzutti and Dr. Jim Buckner

Dr. Buckner and Doug Yeo, vice-president, and Rusty Morris, president, of NABBA

Arkansas Brass in the early 1990’s

Arkansas Brass in the 2010’s

Arkansas Brass plays for Natalie Kornegay

Arkansas Brass playing Tuba Tiger Rag at school concert

SASO_Trumpet_Section

Jim Buckner, John Webb, Rick Rowell, and Michael Scarlato

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Rite of Spring trumpet section

Mahler Symphony No. 2 trumpet section

Arkansas_All-Star_Big_Band_Trumpet_Section

Arkansas All-Star Big Band trumpet section at the Bergeron concert

Arkansas_All-Star_Big_Band_Trumpet_Section_-_2015

Arkansas All-Star Big Band trumpet section at the Vizzutti concert

Dr. Jim Buckner and A’Drion Ve’An share the second trumpet book
at the Rex Richardson concert

Mass Brass and Percussion

Mass Brass Trumpet Section at All-State:  Dr. Jim Buckner, John Webb, Clay Harris, Chris Stevens, Amy Whitaker, Dan Breshears

Faculty Recitals on Campus

Spring1992Jean-Baptist LaurentArbanVariations on “The Carnival of Venice” 
Spring1992AaronCoplandQuiet Citywith Earl Hesse, electronic wind instrument, and Kay McAfee, organ
Spring1992JohnGardnerSonata da chiesa on a theme of Monteverdiwith John Webb, trumpet
Spring1992GiambattistaMartiniToccata in D major 
Spring1992VincentPersichettiThe Hollow Menwith Wayne Pope, narrator
Spring1992RobertPlanelConcerto 
Fall1992MortonGouldPavanne 
Spring1994HenriTomasiConcerto 
Spring1994AntonioVivaldiConcerto No. 2 in B-flat major 
Spring1994Giovanni BonaventuraVivianiSonata Secondafor Arkansas State Music Teachers Association
Spring1994IgorStravinskyL’histoire du soldat 
Spring1995Georg FriderickHandelLet the Bright Seraphim from “Sampson”with Lydia Evanson, soprano
Spring1995KentKennanSonata 
Spring1995AlexanderCellierChavauchee fantastique 
Fall1995ErnestBlochProclamation 
Spring1996AndrĂ©JolivetConcertino 
Spring1996WilliamLovelockConcerto 
Spring1998RafaelMendezFandango (Jota No. 3) 
Spring1998JohnWilliamsConcerto 
Spring1998JosephTurrinIntrada 
Spring1998AlexanderScriabinEtude, Op. 8, No. 11 
Spring1998AlexanderScriabinEtude, Op. 8, No. 12 
Spring1999IgorStravinskyOctetwith John Wier, trumpet
Spring2002Georg PhillippTelemannConcerto in D major 
Spring2006PetronioFranceschiniSonata in D majorwith Jon Whitaker, trombone
Spring2006EricEwazenAn Elizabethan Songbookwith Jon Whitaker, trombone
Spring2006BorisBlacherDivertimentowith Jon Whitaker, trombone
Spring2006GuillaumeBalayPiece de concours 
Spring2006Herbert L.ClarkeCousinswith Jon Whitaker, trombone
Spring2014AlexanderScriabinEtude, Op. 8, No. 11P Lab
Spring2014AlexanderScriabinEtude, Op. 8, No. 12P Lab
Spring2016AaronCoplandQuiet Citywith Shannon Clardy, English horn and Kay McAfee, organ

Other Programs on Campus

Summer1990Solo with bandWarrenBarkerConcerto for Cornet, Flugelhorn, and TrumpetII. Andante and III. Allegro vivace 
Spring1991Duet with bandFrankBencriscuttoSymphonic Jazz SuiteII. Ballad – Rockwith Earl Hesse, alto sax
Fall1991Solo with brass quintetAlexanderGoedickeConcert Etude with the Dallas Brass
Fall1991Solo with orchestraGeorg FriderickHandelThe Trumpet Shall Sound from “The Messiah” with Wayne Pope, baritone
Spring1995SeniorJohannBachGrosser Herr und Starker Konig from “Christmas Oratorio” with Andrew Rye, baritone
Spring1995Solo with bandRafaelMendezLa Virgen de la Macarena  
Spring1996SeniorFrancisPoulencLe Bal masque with Andrew Rye, baritone
Spring1997Solo with bandAlfredReedOde for Trumpet  
Spring1997Solo with brass bandPhillipSparkeCapriccio  
Fall1999Solo with orchestraGeorg FriderickHandelThe Trumpet Shall Sound from “The Messiah” with Bill Higgins, baritone
Spring2000Solo with bandJamesCurnowConcertpiece  
Fall2000Duet with brass bandPeterGrahamQuicksilver with Woody English, cornet
Spring2006Solo with bandBruceBroughtonExcursions  
Fall2006TrioFrancisPoulencSonata for Horn, Trumpet, and Trombone with David Renfro, horn; Jon Whitaker, trombone
Fall2007Faculty Chamber MusicFrancisPoulencLe Bal masque  
Fall2007Faculty ShowcaseJohnCheethamConcert Dialoge with David Laubach, trumpet
Summer2007Senior Band CampAllenVizzuttiSpiral Dance  
Fall2010Faculty ShowcaseSilvestreRevueltasDuo para pata y canario  
Fall2010Solo with bandAndrĂ©JolivetConcerto No. 2  
Spring2011Phi Mu Alpha recitalJamesBarnesPoem  
Fall2011Faculty ShowcaseJohnPalmerA Little Spanish…A Little LatinIV. Sambabrass octet; David Laubach, trumpet
Summer2012Senior Band CampJohnCheethamConcert Dialogue with David Laubach, trumpet
Spring2014GuestArkansas All-Star Big Bandwith Wayne Bergeron 
Summer2014Band CampLeroyAndersonBugler’s Holiday with Ben Albright and Abbie Brown, trumpets
Fall2014guestmaster class duetswith Charles Lazarus, trumpet   
ASpring2015P LabAlexanderScriabinEtude, Op. 8No. 11 and No. 12 
ASpring2015GuestSociety of Composers ConferenceBrass Choir   
ASpring2015GuestSociety of Composers ConferenceFaculty Brass Quintet   
Spring2015GuestArkansas All-Star Big Bandwith Allen Vizzutti   
Spring2015GuestArkansas All-Star Big Bandwith Allen Vizzutti   
Spring2016Arkadelphia Chamber PlayersAaronCoplandQuiet CityShannon Clardy, English horn 
Spring2016brass sextet with band     
Spring2017Arkadelphia Chamber PlayersLeonardBernsteinMake Our Garden GrowJustin Isenhour, solo trombone 
Spring2018GuestLeroyAndersonBugler’s Holiday with Andrea Giuffredi and Lucas Sapaugh, trumpets with the HSU Brass Band
Fall2022Retirement ConcertLeroyAndersonBugler’s Holiday with John Webb and Elora Rawdah, cornets with the HSU Brass Band
Mr. David Rollins and Dr. Buckner after a performance of Excursions
by Bruce Broughton

Dr. Buckner and Sgt. Major Woodrow English after performance of Quicksilver
with the Henderson Brass Band

Dr. Earl Hesse and Dr. Buckner on tour with the Henderson Symphonic Band performing “Ballad” from Symphonic Suite by Bencriscutto

Dr. Jim Buckner and Arnold Jacobs

Dr. Jim Buckner solos with the Charles City Community Band on Frank Simon’s Willow Echoes.
He played his first solo on this stage in 1962, 40 years earlier.  (It was the Carnival of Venice — by Fred Weber, not Arban or Clarke!)