School of Music

Adrienne Banks, Adjunct Professor of Cello and Bass

Originally from Chicago, Adrienne Banks began studying cello at the age of 9. She graduated with honors from Illinois State University, where she earned a B.M. in music performance and music therapy, studying cello under Dr. Adriana La Rosa Ransom. She was a member of the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest before moving to Texas in 2016.

Adrienne has traveled around the United States and Europe to perform, including orchestral tours throughout France and Germany and as a cellist with the International Chamber Music Institute in Bulgaria. She has had the pleasure of playing for hundreds of live events, including SXSW musical festival and concert tours for major artists. She has also recorded for various artists’ albums and done live and commercial work for Amazon Prime.

Adrienne has a passion for collaborating with theatre artists, having performed for numerous theatrical productions, including as the company cellist for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Adrienne has been a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) since 2014 and has worked with a wide variety of individuals and groups to bring healing through music.

She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, having served in multiple leadership positions and earning the Regional Alumnae Leadership Award for excellence in music and community service. She currently performs as a core cellist with Sienna String Quartet based in Austin, TX, as a substitute cellist with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, and teaches cello for Abilene ISD while maintaining a private studio.

Matt Ellis, Adjunct Professor of Guitar

Matt Ellis has been playing guitar since 1990. He has a bachelor’s in music from Hardin-Simmons University in Music, and studied with Dan Mitchell. He has taught guitar since 2002 privately, and currently teaches guitar at HSU.

Matt owns a private studio (Mellis Music Studio) and teaches 50+ private guitar lessons a week. He employs a staff of four other teachers (piano, voice, violin, guitar, ukulele).  He started as an adjunct instructor at HSU in the spring of 2019.

He has a wife, Michelle, and three children: Richard, Lucy and Nora.

He is heavily invested in West Texas in live music, entertainment, worship leading, and instruction.

 

 

Dr. Bernard Scherr, Adjunct Professor of Music Theory and Composition

Dr. Bernard Scherr’s composition catalog includes over 100 works for orchestra, orchestra and chorus, orchestra and soloist, solo voice, chorus, wind ensemble, and various chamber ensembles.

Scherr’s orchestral works have been performed in California, Texas, and Europe, and he has received a number of commissions from professional and university ensembles. His chamber music is regularly performed across the United States, and he has a growing European presence.

The recipient of several awards at the University of Oregon, including the University of Oregon’s 125th Anniversary Composition Commission competition, Scherr’s music has been recognized in competitions in Boston, Pennsylvania, and the Waging Peace through Singing Project in Oregon.

Committed to the performance of new music, Scherr has premiered numerous works with the Oregon Composers Forum Concert Series and the Key City Brass Quintet.

His book Organ Preludes is published by Zimbel Press and “Victimae Paschali Laudes” for orchestra is recorded on the VMM label.

Robert Tucker, Adjunct Professor of Horns, Dean Kelley College of Business

Robert Lee Tucker has a Bachelor of Music from Hardin-Simmons University, a Master of Music from University of Cincinnati, a Doctor of Philosophy from Texas Tech University, and a Master of Business Administration from Howard Payne University. An original member of the Texas Baptist All-State Choir, many years later he had the fortune of directing the band for that organization. Prior to accepting the position of Director of Bands at Howard Payne University, Tucker taught horn and music education at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He then taught public schools in the award-winning Stanton Band program in Stanton, Texas. While at Hardin-Simmons as a student he played in the band, Cowboy Band, sang in the choir, performed with the Abilene Philharmonic and the college orchestra.

At Howard Payne University, after serving as Director of Bands, he became the Dean of Fine Arts where he completed 18 years before accepting the position as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Hardin-Simmons University. His wide range of interests and experience has resulted in published articles, speaking engagements, published compositions, commissions, and opportunities for overseas travel and teaching. His recent book “Like a Crown: Adventures in Autism” is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble and discusses the joys and challenges of raising an autistic child. With over 200 compositions and arrangements to his name, he continues to compose, play jazz and rock piano, conduct, lead music theatre productions, play French Horn, and have speaking engagements on a wide variety of topics including autism, book collecting, church music, and history. He has performed with the Richmond Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Symphony, El Paso Symphony, Midland-Odessa Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Lake Charles Symphony, Rapides Symphony, and the Abilene Philharmonic. As a conductor, he has directed 15 Messiah performances, 10 musicals, and performed over 100 clinics in area schools and served as President of the Texas Association of Music Schools. He completed an MBA in 2013 and is now pursuing the Doctor of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University.

Kristin Ward, Adjunct Professor of Clarinet

Kristin Ward joined the music faculty of Hardin-Simmons University in 2021, where she serves as instructor of clarinet. Kristin previously taught at Hope College and Alma College in Michigan as well as Eastern Oregon University. She holds a master’s degree in clarinet performance from Michigan State University, and has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Abilene Christian University.

As a clarinetist, she performed with the ACU Wind Ensemble as a soloist in David Maslanka’s Clarinet Concerto at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in February of 2017. She is also the clarinetist of the Key City Winds Woodwind Quintet, which is the ensemble-in residence here at Heavenly Rest. This quintet has performed in several venues in the Big Country as well as the TMEA convention in February of 2018.

Dr. Steven Ward, Director of Orchestra

Dr. Steven Ward, director of Orchestra for Hardin-Simmons University, is also the Professor of Music and Director of Orchestra and Bands at Abilene Christian University, the Music Director and Conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Abilene, and the Music Director/Conductor of the Abilene Youth Orchestra. He also serves as the conductor for the Ballet San Angelo yearly production of The Nutcracker, and the conductor of the orchestra and faculty ensembles for the Tennessee Governor’s Schoo for the Arts. Previously, he was Music Director/Conductor of the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra in Kalamazoo, MI. and Director of Bands at Hope College in Holland, MI. Prior to his appointment at Hope College, Dr. Ward was the Music Director/Conductor of the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra and Youth Orchestra in La Grande, OR, and Instructor of Music at Eastern Oregon University.

Dr. Ward holds a D.M.A. in Conducting from Michigan State University, a M.A. in Conducting from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a B.M. in Music Education from Abilene Christian University.

He has conducted extensively in many different areas including orchestra, band, musical theater, opera, and contemporary music, and is a recipient of the ASCAP award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. He spent 9 summers at the Interlochen Arts Camp, conducting the Interlochen Philharmonic, as well as middle school and high school bands and orchestras, and faculty ensembles. He has conducted many all-region and similar ensembles, including the Symphony Orchestra at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, region orchestras and bands throughout Texas (TMEA and ATSSB), Michigan, Tennessee, and others. Guest appearances include Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, the Midland Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Midland Festival Ballet.

Dr. Ward is Past President of the South-Central Region of the College Orchestra Directors Association, President of the Southwestern Division of the College Band Directors National Association, and a member of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Directors Association, the American String Teachers Association, and the Conductor’s Guild.

Jeanine Wheeler, Adjunct Instructor of Piano and Elementary Music

Jeanine Wheeler joined the HSU Department of Music as a staff pianist in 2016, bringing with her a varied experience as music therapist, educator, and performer.  Having received her dual Bachelors in Music Education and Music Therapy from Radford University, with a dual emphasis in trumpet and piano, she taught elementary music, choirs, and various math and science courses at parochial schools throughout mid-Michigan before heading to the University of Kentucky to begin a Masters in Musicology.  While in Lexington, Jeanine became well-known as a collaborative pianist and independent piano teacher, while providing music therapy services in school systems throughout the state and continuing to teach elementary music in small rural schools.

Since arriving in West Texas, Jeanine has been active as a music therapist in community mental health and pediatric hospital settings, independent piano teacher, vocal coach specializing in musical theatre, and performer in both Lubbock and Abilene.  In 2017, she was invited to perform at the College Music Society International Conference in Sydney, Australia, along with a series of new music recitals hosted by Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  She completed her Masters in Music Therapy at Colorado State University in December 2021.

“The World Famous” Cowboy Band, an ensemble rich in history and tradition, has been an important part of HSU, Abilene, and West-Texas since its inception in April 1923. Membership in the Cowboy Band is open to all HSU students, both men and women, with prior high school band experience. The band regularly performs for football and basketball games, rodeos, presidential and gubernatorial inaugurations, parades, and many other campus and civic events. Presenting some 35 performances annually, it is one of the most widely heard and seen musical ensembles in all of West Texas!

With more than 110 years of tradition, the Concert Band is HSU’s largest musical ensemble. Its members typically represent more than 25 major programs offered at the university and include music majors, music minors, and non-music majors. The Concert Band performs four campus concerts each year and tours off campus every spring. The Concert Band has performed for audiences throughout Texas as well as Colorado, New Mexico, California, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Missouri.

The Concert Band’s performances draw from a wide variety of traditional and contemporary repertoire and have included regional premieres of significant works by Roger Cichy, Martin Ellerby, Julie Giroux, Adam Gorb, Yo Goto, Joe Hisaishi, Chang Su Koh, Coby Lankester, John Mackey, Jared Spears, Stephen Melillo, and Guy Woolfenden, as well as world premieres of works by Bernard Scherr, Jeffrey Cottrell, William Owens, and Daniel Porter.

The Concert Band has presented acclaimed performances at the College Band Directors National Association – 2008 Southwest Division Conference in Kansas City, MO, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, Baptist General Convention of Texas, and New Mexico Baptist Convention.

Some of the band’s most distinguished alumni include Colonel Brian Shelburne Jr., director of the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own” (1990-2000), Colonel Jack Grogan, director of the United States Army Field Band (1991-1999), and the late Dr. W. Francis McBeth, acclaimed composer and conductor. Additionally, nearly 10% (24) of all the members of the prestigious Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame were part of the HSU band program.

A large ensemble open to all university students by auditions held at the beginning of each fall semester. Concert Choir is designed for study and performance of representative works from choral schools since the sixteenth century. Concert Choir is the primary tour choir, and has performed by invitation throughout Texas.

View some of our performances on YouTube:

• HSU Concert Choir – Peace, arr. Kevin Siegfried
• HSU Concert Choir – Agnus Dei (Daniel Porter)
• HSU Concert Choir – Sicut Cervus – G.P. da Palestrina
• Hardin-Simmons University performing at BGCT
• Hardin-Simmons University Choir, 2nd Song

An ongoing, flexible organization designed to study and perform standard chamber music repertoire for various combinations of instruments. Open to all students by audition. Examples of some of our chamber groups include the Trombone Ensemble, the Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble, and the Brass Quintet.

A large ensemble open to all university students. Chorale is designed for study and performance of major choral works. No audition is required for this ensemble. Students wishing to participate may enroll during registration for course credit, or choose to participate without credit to their transcript.

All students participating in University Chorale are required to give a placement hearing, the beginning of each fall semester. This hearing is for placement only, not as a requisite for enrollment.

The Hardin-Simmons Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Cottrell, is dedicated to the study and performance of Jazz in many different forms. We perform everything from swing music by the Count Basie band to progressive rock by King Crimson. We also have students that practice and perform in small combos as an outgrowth of the jazz ensemble, and feature them in performance on and off campus. The ensemble is open to anyone regardless of his or her major.

An ensemble which presents fully staged productions each year, as well as a course in the practical application and performing aspects of musical theater. Auditions are held periodically throughout the semester. Times and dates of these auditions are posted in the lobby of the Hemphill Music Building.

More about Musical Theatre at HSU.

A list of some past productions follows: Don Giovanni, Candide, Carmen, Albert Herring, The Ballad of Baby Doe, Die Fledermaus, The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, The Gondoliers, Hansel and Gretel, Suor Angelica, The Medium, Gianni Schicchi, Dido and Aeneas, Guys and Dolls, 110 In The Shade, Trouble in Tahiti, as well as others.

The Civic Orchestra of Abilene is sponsored primarily by the music departments of Hardin Simmons University, Abilene Christian University, and McMurry University,

Click on the following link for more information about Orchestra opportunities http://www.civicorchabilene.org/

Designed to develop sight-reading skills at the piano and explore two-piano/four hand literature. Instruction is also given in collaborative performance, including vocal, instrumental and chamber music. Performance opportunities are available as deemed appropriate by instructor.

Four semesters of Piano Ensemble is required for piano performance majors and open to other pianists by audition. Pianists should accompany at least two music students during the semester in which they are enrolled.

The school of Music at Hardin Simmons is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and was the very first music school in the state of Texas to receive accreditation. The program has been fully accredited by this organization since 1930.

Theta Lambda Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America received its charter in 1959. Phi Mu Alpha is a professional music fraternity for men interested in music. The main purpose of the fraternity is to advance the cause of music in America. The chapter has several projects during the school year such as co-sponsoring the “All-School Sing” with Sigma Alpha Iota and serving as stage assistants for all recitals in Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall. The main fundraising project for the chapter is the “All-School Sing,” with proceeds being used for scholarships and new equipment for HSU and the School of Music.

The Gamma Phi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota was founded at HSU on February 4, 1961. It is an international fraternity for women in the field of music. The largest project locally is “All-School Sing,” co-sponsored with Phi Mu Alpha with all proceeds going to service projects such as the International Music Fund, scholarships, equipment, and materials for the School of Music. The Gamma Phi Chapter is supported by members of the former Abilene Alumnae Chapter of SAI. College membership is open to any music major or minor with a qualifying grade point average.

The Epsilon Pi Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda was founded at HSU in February 1984. Its primary objective is the recognition and encouragement of the highest level of musical achievement and academic scholarship. This national music honorary society chooses its members annually by invitation only according to class ranking and/or grade point average. There are over 130 chapters of Pi Kappa Lambda nationwide.

Music Educators National Conference and Texas Music Educators Association are organizations for music educators and are represented in the School of Music through a student affiliate chapter. By participation in this professional organization at the student level, one is better prepared to serve the profession following graduation. All music education majors, as well as students in other majors, are strongly encouraged to become active in the profession through participation in the student music educators chapter.