Buckner’s Other Fine Students

Some of Dr. Jim Buckner’s Other Fine Students

Georgine Gantz – Natural State Brass Band, promoted to first trumpet part, Little Rock Wind Symphony, 1997

Rick Wilson – Natural State Brass Band

Henderson State University Horn Majors

Adair Deaton – band director, Hooks, TX
Senior Recital, 1990

Robert HerringNatural State Brass Band, Independent Music

Anna Jordon-Williams

Pat Laxon

Patrica McKinney

Rhonda Nipper
Senior Recital, 1990

John Rayburn

Joanna Vines

Students from Previous Positions

Barry Bernhardt, Associate Director of Bands and Director of Marching Band at Florida International University in Miami, Florida; presented a clinic at the Arkansas Bandmasters Association, 1994
student of mine at Northeast Missouri State University (Truman State University)

Johnny Cabaniss, Christian trumpet artist, released his second solo CD with his wife, 1995
toured the United States with Truth
student of mine at Western Carolina University

Dr. Jim Buckner and Johnny Cabaniss

Mike Hedden, toured the United States with Johnny Cabaniss in Truth
student of mine at Western Carolina University

Deb Priest, adjunct professor of trumpet at Culver-Stockton College and Hannibal-LaGrange College
second trumpet in the Truman State University Brass Quintet
principal trumpet in the Quincy Symphony Orchestra
United Musical Instruments clinician
soloist with the Truman State University Wind Ensemble on tour , 1997
student of mine at Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University

Pat Reynolds, associate professor of music and coordinator of instrumental activities at the University of Dayton
high school student of mine while I was at Iowa State University (ISU); his father, Jimmie Howard Reynolds, was Director of Bands at ISU.

Todd Stalter, Director of Bands, Eureka High School, Eureka, IL.  Todd is an exceptional trumpeter and fine composer.  His compositions are available through Alfred Music.

Ken Steinsultz, Director of Bands, the University of Evansville (Indiana)
euphonium student of mine at Quincy College, now Quincy University

A native of Harrisburg, Illinois, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Quincy University, Quincy, Illinois, a Master of Music degree in euphonium performance and a Doctor Music from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Prior appointments were assistant to the Director of Bands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Music Director at Lewistown Community High School, Lewistown, Illinois, and Director of Bands for Brown County Unit Schools in Mt. Sterling, Illinois.

He also serves as principal euphonium for the Evansville Symphonic Band. In March 2009 Steinsultz was featured soloist with the Bend in the River Brass Band. In July 2008 he was the featured euphonium soloist with the Concert Band of Central Illinois. Steinsultz was guest soloist with the University of Illinois Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble at the Army Band (Pershing’s Own) Tuba/Euphonium Conference in January 2007, and in February 2008 he was a feature artist for the Urbana (Illinois) High School sixth annual guest artist concert. In April 2005, he was guest clinician for the Association of Concert Bands national conference and performed as a guest artist on the finale concert.

He has been a member of the Quincy (IL) Park Band, Quincy (IL) Symphony Orchestra, and Mississippi River Brass Band. He has performed with the Champaign-Urbana (IL) Symphony, Danville (IL) Symphony, Illinois Symphony of Springfield/Bloomington, and the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. In the summers of 2003 and 2004, he was co-director of the Mark Foutch Brass Band in Champaign, Illinois.

In addition to his work in instrumental music, Mr. Steinsultz has been Music Director for the Shawnee Hills Barbershop Chorus (Harrisburg, Illinois), the Great River Barbershop Chorus (Quincy, Illinois), The Illini Statesmen Barbershop Chorus (Champaign-Urbana, Illinois), and served as Youth Choir/Handbell Choir Director for Vermont Street Methodist Church in Quincy Illinois. Currently, he is a member of the vocal quartet, Four O’ Clock Sharp.

Mr. Steinsultz is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Inc., and other professional organizations.

Brian Wagner, recording engineer, Southern Illinois University; former lead trumpeter in the University of Illinois Jazz Ensemble
trumpet student of mine at Quincy College, now Quincy University

“I went to the University of Illinois as a Music Ed. major and stayed in Champaign-Urbana until about 2002. When I graduated in ’81, it seemed like my trumpet playing was coming around – I had managed to get on as lead trumpet of the U of I Jazz Band 1 that summer. So I just hung around there and worked whatever jobs I could and played in the band. I also played in another working Big Band, and eventually also in a funk band, then other rock bands, etc….

I quit playing with the U of I Band after 6 years because I was playing in three other bands. But the leader (John Garvey) got me back to tour the Soviet Union in the summer of ’90.

Well, back then was when I really played a lot. I’ve also been “house trumpeter” for a couple of theaters; I’ve played a lot of shows.

I always consider my years as your student to be some of the best; the ones where I really learned a good foundation and exposure to what I could do.”


Brian Wagner at work in the studio

Brian Wagner, Al Hunter (great jazz trumpeter!),
and Dr. Buckner

Keith Winking, Professor of Trumpet and Jazz, Southwest Texas State University
student of mine at Quincy College, now Quincy University

Keith Winking, is professor at Southwest Texas State University where he teaches trumpet and directs the SWT Jazz Orchestra, and is a member of the SouthWest BrassWorks.  Dr. Winking received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Quincy University, his M.M. in Trumpet Performance from SWT, and his D.M.A. in Trumpet Performance from the University of Texas at Austin (1992).  His teachers have included Raymond Crisara, Vince Cichowicz, Leon Rapier, and Don “Jake” Jacoby.  He has served as a visiting lecturer to scores of universities and conservatories including the Crane School of Music and the Moscow and St. Petersburg Conservatories.

Dr. Winking has presented solo and ensemble concerts and clinics throughout the United States, Canada, Sweden, Japan, Switzerland, and Russia.   He is a freelance trumpet player performing with many local and national groups including the Austin Symphony, the Austin Jazz Orchestra, James Brown, the Manhattan Transfer and the Austin Sinfonietta.  He has extensive recording experience and has recorded national jingles for McDonalds and American Express.  He has also taped numerous TV shows including PBS’s “Lonesome Pines,” TNN’s “Texas Connection,” PBS’s “Austin City Limits” and a taping for the BBC entitled “Rhythms of the World.”  He has presented papers at the International Trumpet and New York Brass Conferences and also published articles in The International Trumpet Guild Journal and the International Jazz Educators Journal.  Dr. Winking is a
voting member of the National Association of the Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy’s) and a clinician for the Selmer Company.