sa国际传媒官网网页入口

Conductor and saxophonist Brett Penshorn came to sa国际传媒官网网页入口 in 2022 to teach at the University of New Mexico.

Today he鈥檚 found a second job as the conductor of the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Concert Band.

With nearly 60 years of longevity behind them, the 75-member band consists of volunteers, many of them doctors and lawyers.

Penshorn first discovered the band when he attended a concert.

鈥淭his is one of the most enthusiastic audiences I鈥檝e ever seen,鈥� Penshorn said. 鈥淚t was definitely something I wanted to become a part of.鈥�

A band member since he was in the sixth grade, Penshorn grew up near San Antonio, Texas, where he played in a community band.

鈥淚t was one of the most rewarding events of my career,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 play highbrow music, but they really connected with the audience.鈥�

Now a visiting assistant professor of music at UNM, Penshorn will make his conducting debut on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Eldorado High School George Nason Performing Arts Center.

The program ranges from 鈥淧as Redoubl茅鈥� by Camille Saint-Sa毛ns, to an Italian march by Julius Fuc铆k.

鈥淚 wanted to pick pieces that meant a lot to me,鈥� Penshorn said. 鈥� 鈥楶as Redoubl茅鈥� was one of the first pieces I played at band camp.鈥�

Johnnie Vinson鈥檚 鈥淓choes of the Hollow Square鈥� is based on Appalachian shape note singing.

鈥淭hey have a shape note singing chorus,鈥� Penshorn said. 鈥淚t was a way to help amateur musicians sing better.鈥�

Penshorn has known Frank Ticheli鈥檚 鈥淔ortress鈥� since he was in San Antonio. The piece uses intervals of tri-tones.

鈥淭hey call it the devil鈥檚 interval,鈥� he said.

At UNM, Penshorn assists with the symphonic band and wind symphony, co-directs the Spirit Marching Band and Soundpack Basketball Band, saxophone ensemble, saxophone quartets and teaches an undergraduate course in music appreciation.

Before moving to New Mexico, he served as visiting director of bands at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he conducted the wind ensemble and taught undergraduate music education courses in conducting, woodwind techniques and music technology.

Penshorn is finishing the final stage of his doctorate in wind conducting at the University of North Texas.

He said he has no big changes in mind for the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Concert Band.

鈥淓specially this first year, I don鈥檛 want to change a lot,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really just updating communication. It鈥檚 a really special group of people. I just want these people to go out into the world and be advocates for the arts.鈥�