James F. Keene

James F. Keene, University of Illinois George W. Brownfield Professor of Music and Chair of the University Bands Division
B.M. and M.M., University of Michigan

Appointed in 1985, James F. Keene is only the fourth person to hold the position of Director of Bands since 1905. During his 20-year tenure at Illinois, the UI Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, under his direction, have been selected to perform for every major music conference in the U.S., have toured throughout the country, as well as Great Britain, and have performed in several of America’s most prestigious concert halls.

In addition to producing an extensive recording series for Mark Recordings, the Symphonic Band was featured on the Masterpiece Series distributed by EMI-Toshiba of Japan. These recordings have been broadcast on National Public Radio in the U.S., as well as radio programs in Asia, Australia, and several European countries.

Mr. Keene is a Past-President of the American Bandmasters Association and recently completed a term as chairman of its Board of Directors. He is also a Past-President of the National Band Association and The Big Ten Band Directors Association. For several years he served as chairman of the ABA/Ostwald Composition Contest, and is currently a member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Band Research. In addition to membership in several professional and honorary societies, Mr. Keene is an Evans Scholar, Past-President of the Champaign Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International Foundation. In 1993 Professor Keene was named as an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the International Percy Grainger Society in recognition of his devotion to the music of Grainger; he also serves on the Board of Directors of the John Philip Sousa Foundation and the historic Goldman Memorial Band of New York City. Recently, Professor Keene was named Honorary Life Member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, becoming only the sixth person to be so honored in the 55-year history of that organization.

He has served as clinician, conductor, and adjudicator throughout the United States and around the world, with appearances most recently in Australia, Singapore, Japan and Europe.

Teaching Philosophy

The University of Illinois Band program, which Professor Keene supervises, is made up of 11 ensembles with a total of approximately 800 students from all colleges and campus units. The Wind Symphony, conducted by Professor Keene, is composed of undergraduate and graduate students who have attained the highest level of musical proficiency, and is the premier ensemble of the University of Illinois band program.

In addition to performance activities, Professor Keene (and the program) is sincerely committed to active involvement in the worldwide band movement through commissioning new works, hosting and administrating composition competitions and events, website and links, and maintaining leadership positions in national and international professional band organizations. The program also is committed to the training and preparation of instrumental music teachers and conductors at all levels. In addition, Professor Keene maintains an internship philosophy program structure that guides and prepares wind band conductors at the university level. Several of today’s leaders in the college band world are graduates of the Illinois Band program.