Tribute to Don Owens, Tim Reynish, John Paynter, Guy Woolfenden

Posted on: 1/8/2007

* Don Owens: the consummate teacher. Don Owens (or "DO") was an assistant director of bands and director of jazz studies at Northwestern and taught a course in high school instrumental methods.  I learned more from him about music education and being a band director than in my entire time at Northwestern.  He's always been there encouraging me, helping me and supporting me.

* Tim Reynish: an encyclopedic mind. I studied conducting with Tim while I was doing my Ph.D. at the Birmingham Conservatoire in England.  He knows more about wind conducting and wind repertoire than anyone I know. In our lessons he has always been very supportive and helpful.  He has a knack for saying what you need to hear, good or bad, at the precise moment you need to hear it.  He's a great teacher.

* John P. Paynter: the magic he was able to achieve on the podium always inspired me.  I loved to watch JPP work.  He passed on a lot of his knowledge to me during my undergraduate and graduate years at Northwestern.

* Guy Woolfenden: a great musician.  I studied with Guy for seven years while I was in Birmingham, and I was his assistant conductor with the Birmingham Conservatoire Wind Orchestra.  He was always encouraging and extremely generous with podium time at the Conservatoire.  He always had time for me to discuss music, conducting, composition, and cricket.  I learned a great deal from him.

Tribute submitted by:
Eric Hinton
Director of Bands/Assistant Prof of Music
Susqehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania