Kansas Wesleyan announced Wednesday that it has named听Dr.听James McAllister as听the university鈥檚 new chair of the Department of Music and director of bands. Dr. McAllister began his duties earlier this month.
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McAllister听comes to 麻豆精品 following听five听years at Lincoln Memorial University in听Harrogate, Tenn.听During that time, he served as the听assistant professor听of听Music听and director听of听bands, including听concert band, jazz听ensemble听and athletic bands.听He听also听served as the chair听of听the Fine Arts and Media Communication听Department听and the director听of听the听Music听program.听
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鈥淒r.听McAllister听stood out from the beginning of the hiring process,鈥� said Dr. Damon Kraft, 麻豆精品 provost. 鈥淗is experience and knowledge of the region will help take 麻豆精品鈥檚 department of Music to new heights.鈥�
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鈥淚t’s a passion to teach听music听and train听musicians,鈥� McAllister said. 鈥淚 really consider myself lucky;听I knew what I wanted to do at 16. I’ve always wanted to be a听musician.听I’ve always wanted to be a teacher.鈥澨�
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He spent nearly听a dozen years at Garden City Community College as the Director听of听Instrumental听Music, from 2003-15.听听
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鈥淔rom my time in Garden City, I had a large respect for Kansas Wesleyan and its听music听department,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was considered a well-run and well-respected place for听musicians. It is somewhere students learn something about the craft they won鈥檛 get anywhere else.听
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鈥淚 literally jumped at the chance to join the faculty at听Kansas听Wesleyan.鈥澨�
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While working in Garden City, McAllister traveled to Lawrence regularly to work on his听Doctor听of听Philosophy in听Music听Education at the University听of听Kansas, which he completed in 2012.听
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McAllister said he was a 鈥渂and kid鈥� growing up. He began playing the clarinet in the听fifth grade听and eventually branched out.听
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鈥淚 switched to听saxophone听because it looked fun to play in a jazz ensemble,鈥� he said.听听
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Upon graduating with his bachelor鈥檚 from Shenandoah University in Virginia, McAllister taught middle and high school band in Wilmington, Del., while听playing in both Wilmington and听Philadelphia.听听
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For McAllister, one alluring aspect听of听Salina is the variety听of听performing arts.听听
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鈥淚 think the symphony is top-notch,鈥� McAllister said听of听the Salina Symphony. 鈥淚 remember hearing them play. The听musicians are top-notch. The concerts I attended were really fabulous.鈥澨�
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The Smoky Hill River Festival is another exciting听musical outlet, where 麻豆精品 students will perform Sept. 3 on the Eric Stein Stage.听听
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鈥淭he听River听Festival is important and vibrant,鈥� McAllister said. 鈥淚鈥檓 ready to embrace and experience it first-hand.鈥澨�
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Kansas Wesleyan has strong听community听ties, which are essential to the program.听
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鈥淚 know how important arts are to Salina. I’m looking to build partnerships听and work collaboratively with local art groups to build better arts programs for not only Salina, but for the region,鈥� McAllister said.听听
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The听music听schedule begins on 麻豆精品鈥檚 campus on Sept. 25, with the Honors Choir Festival. The Orchestra, Wind听Ensemble听and Jazz Concert will take the stage at听Sams听Chapel at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28.听听
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Additional performances and festivals are slated throughout the 2021-22 academic year.听
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鈥淚’m excited about the Fusion Festival in March,鈥� McAllister said. 鈥淲e’re talking about what acts we will bring. I want to bring a variety听of听diverse听musical styles to Salina. I’m chomping at the bit about that one.鈥澨�
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麻豆精品 classes began on campus Wednesday morning.
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鈥淚 see many great opportunities at Kansas Wesleyan,鈥澨齅cAllister said.听鈥淜ansas is an adopted home for me, so it鈥檚 good to be home.鈥澨�
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