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