Recordings

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

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 at the Bergeron concert

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

Faculty Recitals on Campus
Spring	1992	Jean-Baptist Laurent	Arban	Variations on “The Carnival of Venice”
Spring	1992	Aaron	Copland	Quiet City	with Earl Hesse, electronic wind instrument, and Kay McAfee, organ
Spring	1992	John	Gardner	Sonata da chiesa on a theme of Monteverdi	with John Webb, trumpet
Spring	1992	Giambattista	Martini	Toccata in D major
Spring	1992	Vincent	Persichetti	The Hollow Men	with Wayne Pope, narrator
Spring	1992	Robert	Planel	Concerto
Fall	1992	Morton	Gould	Pavanne
Spring	1994	Henri	Tomasi	Concerto
Spring	1994	Antonio	Vivaldi	Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major
Spring	1994	Giovanni Bonaventura	Viviani	Sonata Seconda	for Arkansas State Music Teachers Association
Spring	1994	Igor	Stravinsky	L’histoire du soldat
Spring	1995	Georg Friderick	Handel	Let the Bright Seraphim from “Sampson”	with Lydia Evanson, soprano
Spring	1995	Kent	Kennan	Sonata
Spring	1995	Alexander	Cellier	Chavauchee fantastique
Fall	1995	Ernest	Bloch	Proclamation
Spring	1996	André	Jolivet	Concertino
Spring	1996	William	Lovelock	Concerto
Spring	1998	Rafael	Mendez	Fandango (Jota No. 3)
Spring	1998	John	Williams	Concerto
Spring	1998	Joseph	Turrin	Intrada
Spring	1998	Alexander	Scriabin	Etude, Op. 8, No. 11
Spring	1998	Alexander	Scriabin	Etude, Op. 8, No. 12
Spring	1999	Igor	Stravinsky	Octet	with John Wier, trumpet
Spring	2002	Georg Phillipp	Telemann	Concerto in D major
Spring	2006	Petronio	Franceschini	Sonata in D major	with Jon Whitaker, trombone
Spring	2006	Eric	Ewazen	An Elizabethan Songbook	with Jon Whitaker, trombone
Spring	2006	Boris	Blacher	Divertimento	with Jon Whitaker, trombone
Spring	2006	Guillaume	Balay	Piece de concours
Spring	2006	Herbert L.	Clarke	Cousins	with Jon Whitaker, trombone
Spring	2014	Alexander	Scriabin	Etude, Op. 8, No. 11	P Lab
Spring	2014	Alexander	Scriabin	Etude, Op. 8, No. 12	P Lab
Spring	2016	Aaron	Copland	Quiet City	with Shannon Clardy, English horn and Kay McAfee, organ

Other Programs on Campus
Summer	1990	Solo with band	Warren	Barker	Concerto for Cornet, Flugelhorn, and Trumpet	II. Andante and III. Allegro vivace
Spring	1991	Duet with band	Frank	Bencriscutto	Symphonic Jazz Suite	II. Ballad – Rock	with Earl Hesse, alto sax
Fall	1991	Solo with brass quintet	Alexander	Goedicke	Concert Etude		with the Dallas Brass
Fall	1991	Solo with orchestra	Georg Friderick	Handel	The Trumpet Shall Sound from “The Messiah”		with Wayne Pope, baritone
Spring	1995	Senior	Johann	Bach	Grosser Herr und Starker Konig from “Christmas Oratorio”		with Andrew Rye, baritone
Spring	1995	Solo with band	Rafael	Mendez	La Virgen de la Macarena
Spring	1996	Senior	Francis	Poulenc	Le Bal masque		with Andrew Rye, baritone
Spring	1997	Solo with band	Alfred	Reed	Ode for Trumpet
Spring	1997	Solo with brass band	Phillip	Sparke	Capriccio
Fall	1999	Solo with orchestra	Georg Friderick	Handel	The Trumpet Shall Sound from “The Messiah”		with Bill Higgins, baritone
Spring	2000	Solo with band	James	Curnow	Concertpiece
Fall	2000	Duet with brass band	Peter	Graham	Quicksilver		with Woody English, cornet
Spring	2006	Solo with band	Bruce	Broughton	Excursions
Fall	2006	Trio	Francis	Poulenc	Sonata for Horn, Trumpet, and Trombone		with David Renfro, horn; Jon Whitaker, trombone
Fall	2007	Faculty Chamber Music	Francis	Poulenc	Le Bal masque
Fall	2007	Faculty Showcase	John	Cheetham	Concert Dialoge		with David Laubach, trumpet
Summer	2007	Senior Band Camp	Allen	Vizzutti	Spiral Dance
Fall	2010	Faculty Showcase	Silvestre	Revueltas	Duo para pata y canario
Fall	2010	Solo with band	André	Jolivet	Concerto No. 2
Spring	2011	Phi Mu Alpha recital	James	Barnes	Poem
Fall	2011	Faculty Showcase	John	Palmer	A Little Spanish…A Little Latin	IV. Samba	brass octet; David Laubach, trumpet
Summer	2012	Senior Band Camp	John	Cheetham	Concert Dialogue		with David Laubach, trumpet
Spring	2014	Guest	Arkansas All-Star Big Band	with Wayne Bergeron
Summer	2014	Band Camp	Leroy	Anderson	Bugler’s Holiday		with Ben Albright and Abbie Brown, trumpets
Fall	2014	guest	master class duets	with Charles Lazarus, trumpet
ASpring	2015	P Lab	Alexander	Scriabin	Etude, Op. 8	No. 11 and No. 12
ASpring	2015	Guest	Society of Composers Conference	Brass Choir
ASpring	2015	Guest	Society of Composers Conference	Faculty Brass Quintet
Spring	2015	Guest	Arkansas All-Star Big Band	with Allen Vizzutti
Spring	2015	Guest	Arkansas All-Star Big Band	with Allen Vizzutti
Spring	2016	Arkadelphia Chamber Players	Aaron	Copland	Quiet City	Shannon Clardy, English horn
Spring	2016	brass sextet with band
Spring	2017	Arkadelphia Chamber Players	Leonard	Bernstein	Make Our Garden Grow	Justin Isenhour, solo trombone
Spring	2018	Guest	Leroy	Anderson	Bugler’s Holiday		with Andrea Giuffredi and Lucas Sapaugh, trumpets with the HSU Brass Band
Fall	2022	Retirement Concert	Leroy	Anderson	Bugler’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!)