History of NSU Band
Band History
The first band was started in 1927 and was led by student S.R. Lamb. In 1929, student Henry Minsky was appointed director, a post he would hold until 1945. Upon his graduation in 1930, Minsky was named the first full-time director of the band. He worked hard recruiting students and by 1936, the band had grown from the initial 18 to 60 members. The band performed at football and basketball games, parades, and gave concerts for the community. A small dance band called the Varsity Club Orchestra played for various social events.
Minsky was granted a sabbatical for the 1936-37 school year. During this year he completed a Master's degree at Oklahoma University. While he was away, Raymond McCormick took over the band. McCormick also started the Bagley High School Band during his tenure at Northeastern.
In 1942, Minsky departed from Northeastern to begin work on a PhD at Peabody College. He finished his degree in 1945 and returned to Northeastern briefly for the 1945 summer session before he resigned to take a full time position at Peabody College. Glenn Stark took over the band from 1942-45 while Minsky was away.
In fall 1945, Dr. John Paul Jones became the full time director of the band. Three years later, Norman White succeeded Dr. Jones and held the position for one year, replaced by Ernest Justice who served from 1949-1951. Justice was instrumental in the planning of the Fine Arts building and the band rehearsal space that still stands today. In 1950, Lowell Lehman joined the band as a freshman sousaphone player, beginning a relationship that lasted for over 47 years.
T.L. Pittenger took over the band program in 1951. He was replaced by Dr. Theo Nix, who served from 1952-1954. He was replaced by Dr. Elwin Fite, who had served as an assistant director under Dr. Nix. Dr. Fite went on to serve as the Interim President of Northeastern. In 1955, Edward Cross became the director.
From 1956-1966, Dr. Victor Showalter was the director of the Northeastern band. In 1966 Lowell Lehman returned to Northeastern as the director. One of Lehman's early accomplishments was the establishment of the Northeastern jazz program. Although various dance bands had existed throughout the history of the band, this was the first time that jazz was part of the curricular band program.
In 1970, Lehman started the Green Country Jazz Festival, which continues to attract area school jazz bands and world class guest artists. The jazz program continued to grow to the point that it was split from the band program to stand on its own. Today, Northeastern State University is the only university in Oklahoma to offer an undergraduate degree in jazz studies.
In Spring 1971, Lehman took a short sabbatical to pursue a doctoral degree at Oklahoma University. In his brief absence, David Laney led the band program. Lehman returned to the position in the summer of 1971. Under his direction, the band was invited to play at the divisional meeting of the College Band Directors National Association in 1978, a high honor for any university concert band.
In the fall of 1980, Robert Bailey was hired to serve as the trumpet instructor and assistant band director under Dr. Lehman. After a few years of this arrangement, Dr. Lehman decided to leave the day to day direction of the band program to Dr. Bailey and concentrate on classroom teaching, which he did until his retirement from the university in 1996.
Dr. Bailey continued as the band director until 1996 when Dr. Robert Carnochan was hired as the Director of Bands, while Dr. Bailey continued in his capacity as trumpet instructor. Dr. Carnochan, served the NSU band until 1998, when he was replaced by Joe Ray, who guided the band for the 98-99 season.
In August 1999, Dr. Jeff Bright took over as the Director of Bands, a position he held until 2007. In Fall 2007, Dr. Norman Wika assumed the position of Director of Bands. Dr. Wika conducted the NSU Wind Ensemble, Communiversity Band, and taught conducting and applied low brass. From 2007-2011, Dr. Wika also directed the RiverHawk Marching Band. In 2011 Dr. James Lindroth was hired as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of the RiverHawk Marching Band. In addition to his duties with the band program, Dr. Lindroth also coordinates the music education program and teaches applied percussion.
2016-2019, Dr. James Adams was the director of bands at NSU. Dr. Adams directed the Wind Ensemble, the RiverHawk Marching Band, Communiversity Band as well as teaching low brass and conducting.
Fall 2019, Dr. Bryan Raya was hired as the new Director of Bands.
If you have been a part of the tremendous history of this organization, stay connected by joining the Green and White Network, NSU's Alumni Association. For current band activities, please check back to this website often.