Everything Band: Episode 27 - Jerry Junkin

I am thrilled to welcome conductor Jerry Junkin to the show for a conversation about his career, how every commission provides a new opportunity, and the importance of cultivating good relationships.

Topics:

• Jerry’s background as the son of a high school band director and how and being prepared to take advantage of serendipitous opportunities that helped shape his early career.
• Collaborating with other musicians and how to ask a composer to work with your group.
• The most important bit of advice that Jerry looks to pass along to all of his conducting students at the University of Texas.
• Criteria for selecting literature for his concerts and advice for sifting through the large number of pieces that are released each year.

Links:

• Jerry Junkin
• The University of Texas Butler School of Music
• Dallas Winds
• Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
• Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia
• Cornet Favorites, Gerard Schwarz & William Bolcom
• Composers and Schools in Concert
• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
• Harvey Penick's Little Red Book
• Mozart: Serenade for 13 Winds in B-flat Major, K. 361 "Gran Partita"

Biography:

In his 25th season as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Dallas Winds, Jerry Junkin is recognized as one of the world’s most highly regarded wind conductors. He has served as Music Director and Conductor of the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia since 2003, additionally, 2017-18 marks his 30th year on the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the Vincent R. and Jane D. DiNino Chair for the Director of Bands. There, he also holds the title of University Distinguished Teaching Professor. Previously, he served on the faculties of both the University of Michigan and the University of South Florida. In addition to his responsibilities as Professor of Music and Conductor of the Texas Wind Ensemble, he serves as Head of the Division of Conducting and Ensembles and teaches courses in conducting and wind band literature. He is a recipient of multiple teaching awards, and students of Mr. Junkin hold major positions throughout the world. Since 2007, he has been the Principal Guest Conductor of the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Wind Symphony in Tokyo.

Performances under the direction of Mr. Junkin have won the praise of such notable musicians as John Corigliano, David Del Tredici, Gunther Schuller, Karel Husa, William Kraft, Jacob Druckman and Michael Colgrass, among many others. Mr. Junkin has released over 30 compact disc recordings for the Reference, Klavier and Naxos labels. The New York Times named his recent release on the Reference Recordings label, Bells for Stokowski, one of the best classical CD’s of the year. His performance of Circus Maximus with The University of Texas Wind Ensemble was recently released on the world’s first Blu Ray audio disc in 5.1 surround sound by Naxos and was nominated for a GRAMMY. During the summer of 2014 he led The University of Texas Wind Ensemble on a four week tour around the world.

Jerry Junkin is an enthusiastic advocate of public school music education, having conducted All-State bands and festivals in forty-eight states and on five continents. He spends his summers in residence at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, as well as appearing at major music festivals throughout the world. 

Mr. Junkin has served as President of the Big XII Band Director's Association and is a member of the Board of Directors of The John Philip Sousa Foundation, is Past-President of the American Bandmasters Association, and is Past President of the College Band Directors National Association. Regularly making guest appearances with ensembles such as the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and the Taipei Symphonic Winds, the 2017-18 season finds him conducting throughout the United States in addition to multiple appearances in Japan, China, and Europe. In 2005 he was presented the Grainger Medallion by the International Percy Grainger Society in recognition of his championing of Grainger’s works, and he has received numerous career awards from Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Mu, and the Midwest Clinic, among others. Mr. Junkin is a Yamaha Master Educator.