The History of NSU Jazz
Jazz at Northeastern State University began in the 1960's, when Dr. Lowell Lehman started the university's first jazz band. Lehman also founded the Green Country Jazz Festival in the 1970's, which has brought internationally renowned jazz artists to the region for over four decades. In 2010, Dr. Lehman was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame for his service in jazz education.
In 1992, former NSU President Roger Webb approached the university's instructor of jazz, Joe Davis, to inquire about finding a place where jazz students could practice their craft and create a jazz lounge for other NSU students. Over the next several months, Webb and his staff developed a plan of action that led to the design and construction of the NSU Jazz Lab in 1993. Tragically, Joe Davis died of colon cancer in 1995. In his honor, Webb placed a neon sign over the stage that simply reads "Joe's Place".
In the spring of 1996, NSU hired a saxophonist from the University of North Texas to lead the NSU Jazz Studies program. Under the inspiring leadership and talent of Will Campbell, the NSU Jazz Band received superior ratings at the highly competitive Wichita Jazz Festival for three straight years. Campbell was also instrumental in creating Oklahoma's first undergraduate jazz degree program.
In the fall of 2004, saxophonist Arthur White became NSU's third full-time Director of Jazz Studies. White expanded the program to include a second large jazz ensemble, numerous jazz combos, and a course in jazz education and pedagogy. White also produced Oklahoma's first internationally-released and critically acclaimed university jazz CDs: Hour of the Pearl with guest artist Scott Wendholt, Appointment in Milano with jazz legend Bobby Watson, and The Point with guitarist Henry Johnson.
Dr. Tommy Poole became the NSU Director of Jazz Studies in the fall of 2009. Dr. Poole's appointment led to the jazz curriculum expansion to include Jazz Theory I, II, and III. Under Poole's leadership, the NSU Jazz Ensemble performed regularly at one of the region's premiere jazz venues, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. In 2012, the NSU Jazz Ensemble was selected as the Collegiate Honor Jazz Band by Oklahoma Music Educators Association, and in 2012, the NSU Jazz Ensemble released its sixth CD entitled On Cue-the Music of Seamus Blake to critical acclaim. In the summer of 2015, the NSU Jazz released its first student jazz combo CD entitled Out Front.
Dr. Clark Gibson was appointed Director of Jazz studies in 2015. He served the Jazz Studies area well through outreach, recruiting, and performing widely with the Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Combos, providing valuable experience to students. After Dr. Gibson's tenure, Dr. John Petrucelli was appointed Director of Jazz Studies in 2018. In 2019, Dr. Clark Gibson returned to NSU after a year of active performing across the country and continued to develop the program, including the new addition of a commercial music and entrepreneurship element.
Dr. Jordan VanHemert joined the NSU faculty in 2023 as the Director of Jazz Studies and instructor of saxophone. During his time at NSU, Dr. VanHemert has added various microcredentials to the program, supported development of the department by re-adding a secondary jazz ensemble, and been celebrated for his work as a recording artist. Dr. VanHemert was named the 2025 OkMEA Collegiate Jazz Educator of the Year and has taken NSU Jazz to dazzling new heights.