Stephen Henry
Mr. Henry is in his 23rd year of band directing. Mr. Henry is a single father raising his two sons, Ray (16) and Jake (12) who both attend school in the Industrial ISD. They are active members of Grace Lutheran Church in Victoria.
Mr. Henry received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Angelo State University in 1987, which at that time had a great reputation around the state for it's outstanding little music department. He graduated from Sabinal High School in 1983. His father still farms and ranches in the Sabinal area. Mr. Henry's farming and ranching background makes him feel at home in communities like the ones in the Industrial I.S.D., where agriculture is a major industry.
At Angelo State University, Mr. Henry studied Musicology under Dr. Doreen Grimes. During his Junior and Senior years there, he works as Dr. Grimes' Undergraduate Teaching Assistant. Dr. Grimes is a renown composer and musicologist. Mr. Henry studied tuba under instructor Ed Surface; voice and conducting under Paula Homer. Ms. Homer is currently the director of Opera at the University of North Texas.
Mr. Henry was in the A.S.U. Golden Ram Band for all four years of college under the direction of Mr. Harris Brinson. Mr. Brinson is known internationally by band directors as one of their finest.
Mr. Henry attended the University of North Texas and worked on his masters degree from 1988-90. Here he worked towards a Master of Music Theory. While at U.N.T., Mr. Henry was a graduate assistant for Professor Henry Gibbons, and toured and performed with many ensembles. His major professor at that time was renown musicologist, Dr. Gene Cho. Mr. Henry's minor professor was Dr. Kevin Korsyn, who was a student of Allen Forte. Dr. Forte literally wrote the book on Schenkerian Analysis.
Mr. Henry has 254 division I awards to his record, for a total of 63 composite division I ratings for his bands. His bands have won fourteen U.I.L. sweepstakes awards. The bands under his direction have consistently placed in the top 10 in state in both the TMEA Honor Band, the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series contest. He has performed (as a student) at the Texas Music Educators Association (T.M.E.A.) convention on two occasions, and has performed at the Texas Bandmaster's Association (T.B.A.) Convention once. His bands have performed at the Texas State Wind Ensemble Festival on 5 occasions. The Golden Cobra Band marched in the Texas State Marching Contest in 2007 and in 2009, finishing 14th and 11th respectively.
In February 2009, Mr. Henry was inducted into Phi Beta Mu, a professional band director's fraternity. This was indeed a great honor and humbling experience. Mr. Henry's sponsor for this honor was Mrs. Pat Norton of Seguin, and was co-sponsored by Mr. J. H. Castellano (past Industrial director), and Mr. Fred Junkin, retired Victoria High School director.
Mr. Henry is an active member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA). He is an active marching and concert judge in UIL contests across the state. He is also a very active clinician, working with bands across the state, as well as school districts. As well as serving as a band clinician, he enjoys giving workshops about SmartMusic, and has lead workshops at both the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA) convention, as well as the TMEA convention.
Mr. Henry's hobbies and interests outside of his teaching area include hunting, fishing, golf, tennis, RVing, and boating. He raises cattle and maintains a small family ranch near Cuero.