Wind Symphony WindSymphony
CAPA Hall of Fame Concert CAPA Hall of Fame Concert
CAPA Hall of Fame CAPA Hall of Fame
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Dear School of Creative and Performing Art’s “Hall of Fame” ceremony. Each year, the selection committee receives nominations and chooses individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to their art, professions, and the School of Creative and Performing Arts. The Hall of Fame currently has twenty-eight individuals and two organizations who have been inducted into this prestigious group. This year’s class of inductees represent the finest NSU alum to walk the halls of CAPA
CAPA asks anyone who might be interested in nominating an individual (or organization) to the Hall of Fame, to please reach out to Scott Burrell: nfburrellc@nsula edu
Traveler
The Orion Concerto
Program
David Maslanka
Double Concerto for Oboe & Bassoon with Wind Symphony Jenni Brandon
I. The Spiral Galaxy
II. Traveling Through the Milky Way
III. Supermassive Black Hole: Falling into the abyss...
IV. The Orion Nebula: “We are made of star-stuff/Flying through the Spiral Galaxy
Prof. Leah Forsyth, oboe & Dr. Douglas Bakenhus, bassoon
Variations on a Hymn by Louis Bourgeois Claude T. Smith
Gone Scott McAllister
Tuba Concerto Rule Beasley
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Adagio, Allegro, Adagio
III. Allegro Vivace
Taylor Carrell, tuba
CAPA Hall of Fame Recognition Ceremony
Scott Burrell, Presiding
Chris Brown
Sherman Desselle
Mark Poole
Mark Poole, guest conductor
British Eighth Zo Elliott/Hilliard
Please join the CAPA Hall of Fame Reception in the Lobby of the Orville Hanchey Gallery following the concert
Personnel
listedalphabetically
Flute/Piccolo
*ParrellAppolis,MM-Performance,Knoxville,TN LennonCooke,BM-Performance,Natchitoches,LA KeeleyFalgout,BM-Performance,Houma,LA HopeFoster,BM-Performance,Deville,LA TuckerUebersax,MM-Performance,BelAir,MD
Oboe/EnglishHorn
EthanBolyer,BM-Performance,Pineville,LA *JoelRamos,BM-Business,Natchitoches,LA YeseniaZapata,BME,Natchitoches,LA
Bassoon/Contrabassoon
VictoriaGomez,BM-Business,Natchitoches,LA *AlexisOrtega,BS-Biology,Anna,TX TurnerSugg,BME,Henderson,TX
Clarinet
KaylinButler,BME,QueenCity,TX
*RichardCarrillo,BM-Performance,JerseyCity,NJ BlakeFontenot,BME,Lafayette,LA ValerieGalliano,BME,Houma,LA SantiagoSanchez,BS-CIS,Villamaria,Colombia PrestonScoggins,BM-Business,QueenCity,TX HopeSmith,BM-Performance,LakeCharles,LA
BassClarinet/ContraBassClarinet
XavierHobson,BME,Princeton,LA *NoheliaRamos,BM-Business,Natchitoches,LA
Saxophone
*HaydenHirons,MM-Performance,Wynne,AR RiverJekel-Chavez,BME,LeagueCity,TX TimothyPursell,BME,Warrensburg,MO JarrettThomisee,BM-Business,Monroe,LA RonaldTurizo,BM-Performance,Natchitoches,LA
Trumpet
FrenchHorn
HannahBell,BME,DeRidder,LA NoahCastenada,Nursing,MorganCity,LA *DouglasFlores,MM-Performance,SanPedroSula,Honduras FelipeGuerrero-BS-CIS,Natchitoches,LA JosiasRevolledo,BM-Performance,Cartagena,Colombia
Trombone
*JorgeBravo-Chavez,BM-Performance,Dallas,TX TristanDavis,BME,BigSandy,TX FranciscoRiego,BME,SanPedroSula,Honduras MateoVela,BME,Dallas,TX
Euphonium
*DanielColeman,BM-Performance,BossierCity,LA JosephDuBoice,BFA,WestMonroe,LA JonasJohnson,LSMSA,Lafayette,LA
Tuba
*TaylorCarrell,MM-Performance,Huntington,TX AlexMills,BM-Business,Benton,LA BrodieRozema,BS-Accounting,Gloster,LA
StringBass
RafaelMelgar,BM-Business,SanPedroSula,Honduras
Piano&Keyboard
EthanBolyer,BM-Performance,Pineville,LA CandacePaul,BM-Business,Melissa,TX
Percussion
EverGaleas,BM-Performance,Natchitoches,LA FredyHernandez,BM-Performance,Cartagena,Colombia HannahHughes,BME,SulphurSprings,TX WolfgangOtero,BM-Performance,Zapatoca,Santander,Colombia *JackStanley,MM-Performance,Stonewall,LA LaytonZeringue,BM-Performance,Thibodaux,LA
MarsHeard,BME,Zachary,LA PeytonJohnson,BME,BM-Business,Effie,LA CademonLarson,BME,Atlanta,TX *WalkerLibbe,MM-Performance,CorpusChristi,TX GarrettMoss,BME,Ruston,LA JacobNaqvi,BME,Zachary,LA MasonWindham,BM-Business,Texarkana,TX SamWyant,MM-Performance,Clemson,SC * sectionleader
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Program Notes
ByDr.JohnT.Dunn,AssociateProfessorofFineArts
David Maslanka (1943–2017) was a Polish-American composer known for his distinctive and celebrated voice in wind literature. He studied at Oberlin Conservatory and earned graduate degrees from Michigan State University, with additional study at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. After teaching at the City University of New York and New York University, he left academia in 1990 to compose full-time.
Maslanka wrote ten symphonies, more than 15 concerti, a complete Mass, and numerous works for wind and percussion ensembles. His Symphony Nos. 2 and 4 and his solo concerti are staples of the wind repertoire. His music—largely tonal, rhythmically intricate, and melodically driven—often reflects religious themes, his Polish heritage, and imagery of the sea
Traveler (2003) was commissioned by the University of Texas at Arlington Band Alumni Association to honor Director of Bands Ray Lichtenwalter. Written for his final concert, the work opens with a J.S. Bach chorale, “Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr” (“Not so sad, not so much”). The piece reflects Maslanka’s belief that life’s final chapter is not sorrowful, but a culmination of experience and a projection toward joy:
The Orion Concerto Traveler
In our hearts, our minds, our souls
We travel from life to life to life In time and eternity
Jenni Brandon (b. 1977) is an American composer and conductor. She has received degrees in music composition from West Chester University, the University of Texas in Arlington, and the University of Southern California. She has been commissioned for a variety of ensembles including opera, orchestral, works, chamber music, soloists, and wind band. In addition to composing, Brandon also runs her own publishing company which publishes and distributes her works. As a conductor, she specializes in her own music and pieces by living composers. She conducted the premiere of her one-act opera 3 Paderewskis (2019) at the Kennedy Center.
The note for the Orion Concerto for Oboe and Bassoon is from Brandon’s website: “this piece tells the story of our galaxy, of the great unknown and what lies beyond, and where we belong within this vastness of space. The soloists and the ensemble paint a picture of this great mystery of the universe, taking us on a journey through the Spiral Galaxy and the Milky Way. Being pulled toward the supermassive black hole, the djembe lends a rhythmic background of mystery to this journey. We then travel to the place where stars are born in the Orion Nebula, quoting Carl Sagen from his book Cosmos that, “we are made of star-stuff.” Finally, we begin to leave the Orion Nebula to continue our journey again through the spiral galaxy, exploring the vastness of space as thematic material returns to carry
us on this ever-continuing journey of exploration. Originally premiered as Double Concerto for Oboe and Bassoon with Wind Symphony, the Orion Concerto is a shortened version of this work. It was arranged at the request of Jonathan Hinkle, director of bands at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado, for performance during the Colorado Music Educators Association conference in January 2023. The original version Double Concerto was written for Scott Pool, bassoon, and it was an honor to have him and Rogene Russell on oboe premiere it at the University of Texas at Arlington Wind Symphony under the direction of Doug Stotter in February 2013”
Variations on a Hymn by Louis Bourgeois
Claude T Smith (1932-1987) was an American conductor, composer, performer, and educator. His 110 works for wind band constitute a large portion of his compositional output, and many of his works have entered the standard performance repertoire, including Emperata Overture (1964), God of Our Fathers (1975), and Eternal Father, Strong to Save (1975). He received his musical training both on the job and in a university setting: he played horn during the Korean War with the 371st Army Band and earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Kansas in 1958 His musical language emphasizes striking melodic material, bass lines that articulate functional harmonic progressions, and engaging parts for all ensemble members (which may reflect his roots in music education) The most famous aspect of Smith’s music is his use of continuously changing meter and his fondness for the hemiola (rhythmic threes and twos simultaneously)
Variations on a Hymn by Louis Bourgeois (1984) was commissioned for the United States Marine Band, conducted by Louisiana native Col. John R. Bourgeois. This piece contains settings of the hymn “The Old One Hundredth,” one of the most famous pieces by Loys “Louis” Bourgeois (c 1510-1560) He was a Renaissance composer and theorist and one of the leading compilers of Calvinist hymn tunes in the mid-16th century This hymn is traditionally used as the Protestant doxology. Smith transforms the hymn into a virtuosic showpiece for the band, providing an emotional high for listeners
Gone Scott McAllister (b. 1969) is an American composer, clarinetist, and educator, currently teaching music composition at Baylor University He has degrees from Florida State University and Rice University. McAllister’s compositional style is particularly notable for pieces featuring the clarinet, as well as for fusing various musical styles (especially hard rock and Led Zeppelin)
Gone (2013) for wind ensemble is a transcription of the sixth movement from his sixty-minute concerto for clarinet, the Epic Concerto. Each movement is tied to an important moment of his life as a clarinetist In the case of the sixth movement, an automobile accident ended McAllister’s career as a performer in 1994 The music represents the pain of loss, the process of healing, and learning how to move on The inspiration for the movement as a stand-alone piece was the death of his mentor, James Croft, one of the music professors at FSU.
Rule Beasley, born in Texarkana, Texas, is a musician who has had an outstanding career across America spanning over forty years and including teaching at several universities, composing over thirty original works, and performing at the highest level as both a soloist, symphonic musician and Army band member. Beasley taught at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana (1958-1965), University of North Texas in Denton, Texas (1965-1975), and Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California (1975-1993) Beasley’s works have been performed numerous times across the United States and have had their premiers at prestigious events such as the Benington Composer’s Conference in Benington, Vermont In his retirement, Beasley is currently the music director at his local church where he performs as a pianist and arranger.
Rule Beasley’s Concerto for Tuba and Band was written in 1969 for former professor of tuba at University of North Texas David Kuehn who premiered the work in May of that year. The first movement of the work, constructed in a twopart form, features beautifully flowing melodies in a romantic style which are paired with Beasley’s unique harmonic language that can be heard most obviously in the clarinet section Due to constant off-beat motion in the ensemble underneath the solo melody, this movement brings to mind undulating currents beneath an unassuming, calm surface. The second movement is the slower, more relaxed one of the work, and is constructed in three parts; the first and last sections provide the soloist with much liberty in their meditative melodies The middle section features constantly shifting rhythms and keys, representing a period of chaos in between the calm, outer sections. The third and final movement is constructed as a rondo with a refrain that routinely repeats and injects instability into the work In between repetitions of the refrain are episodes that are much more peaceful in character, though careful observation reveals that they, too, have unstable elements such as implied contrasting meters or dissonant keys. The final repetition of the refrain features three phrases by the solo tuba which each fall back down, failing to fully repeat as in previous sections. These three failed attempts result in a finale that has a completely opposite character to all that came before: convicted and determined, this finale eliminates all uncertainty of key and rhythm, and features wild runs for the soloist. The work finishes with three heroic, rising figures.
British Eighth
Alonzo Elliott (1891–1964) was an American composer and songwriter who began writing music at age fourteen. Educated at Yale, Cambridge, the American Conservatory in France, and Columbia Law School, he also studied privately with Nadia Boulanger and Leonard Bernstein.
While a senior at Yale, he composed his best-known song, There's a Long, Long Trail, in collaboration with his roommate Stoddard King. Written in 1913 in their dorm room, the song was later adopted by British soldiers during World War I after American publishers initially declined it.
In 1943, Elliott composed the march British Eighth in tribute to General Montgomery and the British Eighth Army following their North African victories over Erwin Rommel The work is a stately American march in the British style, marked by rich countermelodies, broad dynamics, and full-value stingers, contrasting with the shorter stingers and trio key changes typical of marches by composers such as John Philip Sousa.
CAPA Hall of Fame
Chris Brown
Chris Brown has served as the official artist for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame since 2009. A former minor league pitcher turned nationally recognized sports artist, he is known for his dynamic athlete portraits and his ability to capture the emotion and motion of sport. His artwork has been featured in International Business imes, CEO Weekly, and Beckett Magazine, and he has eated pieces for major organizations, including the Sugar Bowl.
“Chris is recognized as one of the country’s leading sports artists, and that just refers to one aspect of his creative career, said Doug Ireland, Chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. “His rapid evolution as the official artist for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, both in terms of the depth and quality of his artwork and the acclaim he’s received, is remarkable. Personally, and as chairman of the Hall, I’m extremely proud of him and the fact that he is receiving this elite honor, which is tremendously deserved.
“What makes Chris’ artwork so powerful is the personal engagement he has with his subjects. It is a collaborative journey and results in him forming significant friendships with some of the country’s most prominent sports figures. Chris adds great value to their experience as they approach and receive induction in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.”
Brown has illustrated three books, including his book, “Life Lessons From The Diamond.” He continues to broaden his impact through commissioned work for athletes and organizations, as well as gallery exhibitions across the United States.
Sherman Desselle
Desselle’s path to becoming an award-winning journalist gan long before he stepped into a newsroom. As a student at Northwestern, he immersed himself in music and theatre within the School of Creative and erforming Arts – training that would ultimately shape ery stage of his career. In addition to performing on and off campus in various capacities, he also pledged Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia – Gamma Rho Chapter (Spring 2004), and later Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Theta Chi Chapter (Spring 2007), two brotherhoods that deepened
his commitment to service, discipline, and creative excellence – and then a roast beef sandwich happened.
After graduating, Desselle returned to his hometown of Alexandria to work in a grocery store deli until he figured out his next move. An unexpected conversation there set the trajectory for his future. A chance encounter with a newsroom manager led to his first job in television as a part-time photographer at KALB-TV. When Hurricane Gustav devastated Central Louisiana, Desselle was pushed in front of the camera for the first time – an experience that ignited his passion for connecting with people through storytelling.
Desselle’s theatre training, vocal performance background, and time spent in NSU’s studios became the foundation of his journalistic voice – and naturally translated into the newsroom. His work today blends that artistic foundation with the demands of modern journalism: clear and compelling writing, narrative-driven reporting, audience-focused storytelling, and innovative digital and social media content creation.
“Sherman Desselle was always a great student of voice but he was a student with a rare quality,” said Michael Rorex, former professor of voice at NSU. “Sherman was a natural performer. He always moved the audience with his ability to communicate text. Whether he was on stage in Magale Recital Hall or church on Sunday morning, those who heard him sing walked away knowing they had heard a singer who made you hear and feel the lyrics he was singing.”
He went on to anchor KALB’s top-rated morning program “Jambalaya” for seven years and won numerous Associated Press and Louisiana Association of Broadcasters Awards before joining NBC affiliate WDSU-TV in New Orleans as weekend anchor. His work there earned a regional Edward R. Murrow award and a reputation for elevating stories that matter to the community
Beyond the camera, Desselle is deeply committed to mentorship, outreach and the arts. He has volunteered with youth programs, moderated community forums and political debates, organized scholarships, and served on director boards –including the Rapides Symphony Orchestra.
Mark Poole
Poole is originally from Mesquite, Texas, and is in his eigh year at Lone Star High School. The Lone Star Wind Symphony was awarded the 2024 TMEA 5A Honor Band recently and performed at the 2024 TMEA Conference Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the 76th Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2022. The Wind Symphony was recognized as a National Windband Honor Recipient of the Mark of Excellence in 2019, 2021, 20 2023, 2024 and 2025. The LSHS Marching band advanced t the State Marching Contest in 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
2025, and was a finalist in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
“I’m thrilled that Mark Poole is being welcomed as a new member of the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts “Hall of Fame,” said Bill Brent, director emeritus of the School of Creative and Performing Arts. “He is certainly worthy of this honor as he has distinguished himself as a music educator in both Louisiana, Texas and beyond. Throughout his professional career, Mark has exhibited great leadership and has been a positive role model for thousands of students. In my private conversations with him, he frequently credits his time at NSU and in the School of CAPA for much of his professional success”
Poole was previously the director of bands at Forney High School for 12 years. The marching band made appearances at the Texas State Marching Contest five consecutive times. The Wind Ensemble was awarded consistent Sweepstakes honors and was named a four-time National Windband Honor recipient, two-time Grand Champion of the Dallas Winds Invitational, and named a TMEA State Honor band finalist in 2013 (fifth overall) and 2017
Prior to his appointment at Forney, Poole was the director of bands at Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas, the director of bands for the Jasper Independent School District, and at Southwood High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. His bands received numerous sweepstakes awards. In 2003, the JHS Symphonic band was awarded the Outstanding Performance Series award from ATSSB
One of his former students, Dr. Adam Hudlow, is a member of NSU’s music faculty.
“I am thrilled to see the honor of CAPA Hall of Fame extended to my teacher and friend Mr. Mark Poole,” said Hudlow. “When I met him as a freshman at Southwood High School in 1999, I was immediately and lastingly inspired by his unswerving commitment to musical excellence. It’s no surprise that Mark has gone on to become one of the preeminent music educators in the South. Mark’s teaching record exemplifies one word: results. Through everything, his great bands and great music-educational outcomes for his students have defined a career of unimpeachable brilliance.”
Poole received a degree in music education and saxophone performance from the University of North Texas. After completing his undergraduate degree, Poole graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern the following year, receiving his master’s degree in conducting.
Guest Artists
Leah Forsyth
Oboist LEAH FORSYTH is a versatile solo and collaborative performer. Bringing with her a variety of experience as an orchestral, chamber, and military musician, she now serves as the Associate Professor of Oboe at Northwestern State University. Prior to joining the NSU faculty in 2011, she served as an Oboist with the United States Army Field Band in Washington DC, where she toured and performed regularly throughout the United States with the Woodwind Ambassadors Quintet.
Since 2012, Ms. Forsyth has held the position of Principal Oboe with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra in Alexandria, LA, and Second Oboe with the Texarkana Symphony. She performs regularly with the Shreveport Symphony as well as other orchestras throughout Louisiana and Texas. She previously held the position of solo English Horn with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Columbus (OH) Symphony Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony, Charleston (SC) Symphony, Ohio Light Opera, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, Theatre by the Sea (Matunuck, RI), and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. She was a member of the Favorable Winds Quintet, performing throughout Central Ohio from 20052007.
Leah is a founding member of the Three Reeds Duo with husband and saxophonist Paul Forsyth. Three Reeds has traveled across the globe, performing as invited guest artists and at conferences in the US, Scotland, Croatia and Colombia. Playing everything from baroque and classical transcriptions to contemporary works, the duo strives to champion new repertoire for this unique instrumental combination. They have commissioned many new works featured on their two albums, Signals Cross (2016) and Metamorphosis (2019), available on all streaming platforms A native of Central Ohio, Ms. Forsyth holds a B.M. from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory and an M.M. from Florida State University where she studied with Dr. Mark Ostoich and Dr. Eric Ohlsson respectively. When not making reeds, Leah can be found gardening and being an animal rescue advocate.
Douglas Bakenhus
Dr. Douglas Bakenhus is Bassoon Professor and Director of Orchestral Activities at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. He holds music degrees from University of Texas at Austin (DMA, B.M.Ed) and Texas A&M UniversityCommerce (M.M. in Conducting) and has completed additional graduate coursework in conducting and bassoon performance at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Bakenhus has served as Music Director of the Northeast Texas Symphony since 2002 and was Music Director of the
Austin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2001 to 2004. He has also held collegiate conducting positions at Texas Lutheran University and the University of Mississippi.
His conducting teachers include Larry Rachleff, Gustav Meier, Carl St. Clair, Gary W. Hill, and Elizabeth Green. He also studied conducting and Baroque/Classical performance practice with Ivars Taurins at the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute in 2010 and 2017.
His bassoon teachers include Hugh Cooper, Kristin Wolfe Jensen, Robert Williams, and Dominic Teresi.
Throughout his teaching career, Dr. Bakenhus has remained active as a guest conductor and clinician with honor orchestras across Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. As a bassoonist, he performs with several regional ensembles, including the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Baroque Artists of Shreveport, Marshall Symphony Orchestra, South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.
On Baroque and Classical bassoons, he regularly performs with period instrument ensembles in the region, such as the Austin Baroque Orchestra, the Louisiana Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Ars Lyrica Houston, the Houston Bach Society, the Mercury Baroque Chamber Orchestra, and Sonido Barroco of San Antonio.
Taylor Carrell
Currently a Graduate Assistant for Dr. Masahito Kuroda, Professor of Euphonium and Tuba at Northwestern State University, Taylor Carrell is a member of the Northwestern State Wind Symphony, Principal Tubist of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the NSU Brass Quintet. Carrell has performed in numerous solo recitals including the Carterfest and Kagelfest contemporary composer spotlight recitals organized by Paul Christopher as well as in solo recitals organized by many of his colleagues. Carrell’s research
currently focuses on the life and works of American composer Rule Beasley with goals of archiving and publishing resources regarding Beasley’s music and career. His research has been presented at leading conferences, including the Louisiana Music Educators Association and the Texas Music Educators Association, and he looks forward to presenting it as a lecture-recital at the International Tuba Euphonium Association’s South-Central Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in March. Carrell will host his graduate solo recital on the music of Rule Beasley on April 9, featuring the re-premiere of two of Beasley’s unpublished compositions
