James Keene

University of Illinois School of Music Professor Emeritus
Past-President of the American Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, The Big Ten Band Directors Association
U.S.A

 

James F. Keene retired from the University of Illinois in 2008, where he held the titles of Director of Bands and Brownfield Distinguished Professor of Music. Appointed in 1985, he was only the fourth to hold the Director of Bands position since 1905.

During his 23-year tenure at Illinois, the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, under his direction, were selected to perform for every major music conference in the U.S., toured throughout the U.S. and Europe, and performed in several of America's most prestigious concert halls including several appearances at historic Orchestra Hall in Chicago, as well as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York.

His ensembles have produced an extensive recording series on several labels. These recordings have been broadcast on National Public Radio in the U. S., as well as such diverse places as the United Kingdom, Tokyo, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Sydney and recently on Vatican Radio.

Mr. Keene is Past-President of The American Bandmasters Association and The National Band Association. He is a Past-President of the Champaign Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow of the International Rotary Foundation. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the historic Goldman Memorial Band of New York City and was a frequent guest conductor of that iconic ensemble. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Music Education. In 1995 he became an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the International Percy Grainger Society and was presented with the coveted Grainger Medaillion in recognition of his noted performances of Grainger's music on four continents. In 2002, he was named Honorary Life Member of The Texas Bandmasters Association, only the fifth person so honored in their 65 year history. In 2009, he was installed into the Bands of America Hall of Fame in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Professor Keene is in constant demand as conductor, clinician,and adjudicator, and has appeared in those capacities in forty-four states and on four continents. In 2012, Professor Keene is scheduled to conduct in Australia, China and Europe in addition to a busy schedule of appearances throughout the U.S.

 

 

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