SON Newsletter 2025 Fall by Northwestern State University

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I did not know Ken Green until I accepted the position as Director of Bands at Northwestern State in April 2022. After a few personal interactions and hearing many stories since his passing this July, I consider this to be a tremendously missed opportunity.

My first experience of Ken was similar to what I heard several times during his memorial service on Saturday, August 23, 2025: he began to talk and I sat down...we were there for a while!

After getting over the first impression that he looked like the comedian Ryan Stiles, our conversation was engaging and insightful. While I do not remember most of the conversation that day, I do recall him saying, “I am so glad you are back in Louisiana. You are exactly what Northwestern needs.” While I hope he was right, I believe that this experience is in line with many of the same sentiments experienced since his passing.

This edition of the SON Alumni Band Newsletter is dedicated to the legacy he leaves for us at Northwestern State.

First-Year Members to the SON Give Hope

One of the reasons why I have enjoyed teaching for the past 29 years is that each new academic year is an opportunity to start over and try again. While the students stay the same age year after year, time provides experience, which affords the chance to make the current students’ experiences that much better.

Fromthe Director of Athletic bands

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Alumni Spotlight

Subtitle

What attracted you to Northwestern State?

Bill Brent came to Bossier High School where I was a trombone player and rehearsed the band. I was already committed to another school, but Bill and I made a great connection that evening during rehearsal. Afterward, I made plans to visit NSU. The visit was great of course and I realized there was something happening at NSU despite the small numbers in the band program at the time.

What was your initial reaction when arriving as a newly minted member of the SON?

I actually arrived at band camp late because I had to complete Army basic training that summer. It was a bit overwhelming at first because of this, but things settled in quickly. The energy was so positive, and the band was sounding great. Just two years before

there were less than 50 members in the band but Bill had gotten it to about 110 or so when I arrived. The members of the band at that time knew something special was happening. We were so proud to be a part of this growing organization. Everyone in the band was involved in recruiting. Many of us went back to our high school bands to give a recruiting talk and pass on materials provided by Mr. Brent. By the time I graduated the band had well over two hundred members. What a fun time to be in SON!

What was one or two highlights of your time as a member of the SON?

This has always been my favorite moment as a member of the SON. During my time at NSU, we played Louisiana Tech in football every year in what was known at the “State Fair Game”. This was a huge game for all because it was played on neutral ground in Shreveport at Independence Stadium. Crowds were very big back then. Somewhere between 20 and 30 thousand would attend the game. Half time got rained out two years in a row so most in the Shreveport crowd had not seen the phenomenal growth of the band. The last time the band played half time at the State Fair game it had less than 50 members. We played a West Side Story Show that night that had a great finish. The crowd was on their feet before the end of the show.That moment is seared into my brain. You can still find that show on YouTube* believe it or not. The show is flawed and old school, but it was a fantastic night for the band and NSU. Like I said previously, there was just something magical about that time.

As a fellow student-colleague, what is one piece of advice you wish the current members of the SON would hear from you?

I was never the best player or the most natural conductor, but I worked hard at it; really hard. Regardless of what field you are going into. Truly hard workers will stand out and be rewarded. Being on time, dressing appropriately, and working hard are simple things to do that get noticed. If you have the option to work from home or go into the office at that first job, go into the office.

What were your thoughts when asked to take over as Director of Bands at your Alma Mater?

“Oh boy. These are some big shoes to fill with a large audience watching”. I think I was ready though. Mr. Brent had prepared me well and thankfully made the transition very easy.

As director, what are one or two highlights of your time in that position?

The team spirit and creative energy that developed between Dan MacDonald, Oliver Molina, Estelle Murr, Adam Hudlow, and me made the work environment stimulating, invigorating, and just plain fun. The shows of 2017, 2018, and 2019 were phenomenal due to the work of that team. Definitely a highlight of my entire career.

The development of the Wind Symphony into an ensemble of significant quality was my most important contribution to the NSU band program. Performing at the World Association of Symphonic Band and Ensembles conference in Spain and the CBDNA Southern Regional conference we hosted are highlights of my time with the Wind Symphony.

What message would you like for the SON Alumni members to know about you and the current direction of the band program?

I am sincerely enjoying my current position as a middle school band director in the Little Elm ISD in the North Dallas area. After decades in Natchitoches, Kristine and I are happy to be taking advantage of big city life.

I was very happy to hear that my former student Trevor Bailey was returning as Director of Athletic Bands. He is a great teacher who will bring real energy to the position. I have witnessed Dr. Pursell and Trevor working diligently on the recruiting process and expect we will all see the fruits of their labor in the next year or two.

As a fellow director, what is one piece of advice you wish the current directors would hear from you?

Most of my former students will already know what I am going to say here as I have been preaching this for at least 25 years (to little or no avail I might add, but I’m not giving up!). Don’t let competition be the motivation and driving force of your program. A superior rating or a marching contest victory should not be the goal of your teaching. It should be the result of your teaching.

Jeff Mathews inducted in the 2023 Ring of Honor with Bill Brent and SON members Konnor Thibodeaux and McKenzie Ryder

Getting Reconnected

Alumni gatherings bring the true spirit of the Spirit of Northwestern together again

The old saying “Time flies when you are having fun,” is so true; we certainly experience that when we are in our youth. The same can be said from the experiences these past four months since Homecoming 2024 when the SON Alumni gathered for the second annual Alumni Gathering in Natchitoches at Flying Heart.

This year we are fortunate to have the opportunity to create additional spaces to rekindle old stories from our time at Northwestern State and those special moments in the SON and Band Program. These stories likely bring smiles to our faces and joy to our hearts. It is plausible that these stories have become exaggerated in our favor as the years continue to move forward; likely due to selective memories or a receding hairline! “I promise, that fish was massive...but it got away!”

As we continue to find creative ways and times to get together and share these stories, we hope we find a pathway to have each of you join us. While the gatherings at Homecoming, the Midwest Clinic, and TMEA will become staples in our offerings, we will draw up plans to meet in other areas of the region, so all will have an opportunity. With our new home in New Orleans for LMEA, we look forward to finding a time in The Big Easy to take a moment and share time together...I am certain there are a few places we might find to accommodate you Demons!

Please continue to check out the Spirit of Northwestern Alumni Band page on Facebook for updates and opportunities. In the meantime, please enjoy the next few pages of photos and videos of the gatherings from the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025!

Chicago

- December 19, 2024

- February 14, 2025

Moving on... same address

...always grateful for the incredible alumni community that continues to support and uplift this program

I hope this message finds you well! It has been an exciting and memorable season for the Spirit of Northwestern, and I am always grateful for the incredible alumni community that continues to support and uplift this program.

I want to take a moment to invite all SON alumni, especially members of the marching percussion section, to a special NSU Percussion Alumni Event happening May 3-4, 2025. This will be a fantastic opportunity to reconnect, make music, and share stories, but most importantly, to celebrate the incredible teaching career of Associate Director of Bands Ken Green. The event will feature a banquet on Saturday, May 3, followed by a percussion ensemble concert at 2 PM in Magale Recital Hall on May 4, where NSU Percussion Alumni will take the stage. I hope many of you will join us for this meaningful weekend to honor Mr. Green and spend time with fellow alumni!

I am also writing to share some personal news. As many of you may have heard, after ten incredible years serving as the Assistant Director of Bands, I have made the difficult decision to step away from my role. While this was not an easy choice, I am looking forward to spending more quality time with my family, especially with my two young children.

That being said, I am not going far! I will continue teaching at NSU, dedicating my time and energy to the percussion studio. This is an exciting opportunity for me to focus on working closely with our percussion students, helping them grow as musicians and performers, and bringing the NSU name to national and international levels.

Over the past decade, I have been privileged to work with so many talented students, alumni, and colleagues who make the Spirit of Northwestern such a special place. Some of my most cherished memories include leading the drumline in Death Valley as we took on LSU, conducting our outstanding concert bands, and witnessing the dedication and energy that our students bring to every performance. I will always look back fondly on the excitement of football games and our incredible marching band performances in Turpin Stadium, especially during the Classic on the Cane Marching Band Competition, where we welcomed talented high school bands to experience the energy and tradition of the Spirit of Northwestern. The SON is more than just a band it’s a family, and I am grateful to have been a part of it for so long.

We are currently in the process of hiring my successor, and I am confident that we have a pool of highly qualified applicants who will carry on the tradition and excellence of the program. I know that the Spirit of Northwestern will continue to thrive, and I look forward to seeing all the great things to come. Thank you for your support over the years and for being part of this incredible community. I hope to stay connected and see many of you at future performances, Homecoming events, and beyond.

With gratitude, Dr. Oliver Molina

Ring of honor 2024 Inductees

Ring now includes recognition of Ken Green & student inductees from the Fall 2024 season

In January 2024, the SON Awards Banquet was established by the Theta Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and Eta Pi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. This event was created to celebrate the current members of the SON and to honor special guests. The evening included dinner and awards given to members of the SON by KKY and TBS. Each member was awarded a token of appreciation associated by class. Graduating seniors were also recognized for their loyalty to the SON. Senior members included:

Chris Acker

Juan Angulo

Quincy Beasley

Jeannette Bentancourt

Remi Blanchard

Makalya Boudreaux

Jessica Breaux

Evan Bryant

Alessandra Coneo

Caleb Daniels

Piper Dearing

Jillian Duggan

Allison Flores

Angela Gonzales

Berenice Juarez

Michaela Kleyle

Rikki Landry

Covie Latham

The evening concluded by recognizing the 2024 Ring of Honor inductees. The award symbolizes the lasting effects of a SON member’s character work ethic, and leadership paired with superior service to the organization and loyalty to Northwestern State. The band staff recognized Mr. Green’s leadership in guiding the SON percussion from 1983 to 2022. Students indicted by their peers included Remi Blanchard and Brady Mathis.

Emily Marr

Harmony Marsh

Brady Mathis

Diana McCabe

Luke Niedens

Sebastian Oviedo-Osorio

Juan Padilla

Jett Person

Cindy Pinkerton

Vivian Powell

Ramiyah Rounds

Lennon Shumate

Alexa Sumbler

Aleysia Trahan

Jorge Vargas

Dalton Wade

Clayton Wallace

Abby Whatley

Kirk Ybañez

Special Recognition from Mr. Brent for Ken Green

For 22 years, Kenneth (Ken) Green was the associate director of bands and was responsible for the percussion studio and drumline at NSU.

Prior to his arrival at NSU in 1993, NSU had three professors of percussion and the arrival of Ken on campus brought stability that the percussion studio desperately needed.

During his tenure at NSU, Ken was a master recruiter and brought undergraduate and graduate students from all of the United States to NSU. The drumline continued to grow in both quality and size and for a number of years, there were more than 40 members of the drumline including the front ensemble.

Today’s percussion studio is blessed with some of the finest equipment available to college level percussionists and Ken Green is responsible for much of that equipment. He was the only percussion instructor I worked with over the years who insisted his students be responsible for cleaning the instruments and for maintenance on a regular basis. He even ensured that the students filed their band music in folders and then brought the folders to rehearsals. No more percussion music on the floor of the drumline closets!

With that said, Ken’s perhaps great legacy is the number of students he mentored who have become master educators in their own right. Many of his former students have become leaders in the percussion world and str involved with PASIC and INNOVATIVE PERCUSSION and others have been members of the United States Army Old Guard Drum and Fife Corps in Washington DC as well as performing in other military bands.

I’m thrilled that Ken Green is being installed into the Ring of Honor of the Northwestern State University “Spirit of Northwestern” Band. He is certainly deserving of this distinction and I appreciate Dr. Pursell and the selection committee for honoring Ken in this manner.