NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

8/28/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Jeffrey C. Mathews has been named director of athletic bands at Northwestern State University, according to Bill Brent, head of the Mrs. H.D. Dear and Alice E. Dear Department of Creative and Performing Arts. Mathews will coordinate band activities connected with Northwestern athletics including the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band and the basketball pep band. He will also teach music education courses. Brent will continue as director of bands.

Mathews has been assistant director of bands and an assistant professor of music at NSU since 1998. He has assisted in all marching band activities and was part of the recruiting team that helped create the largest band in NSU history. Mathews also serves as conductor of the NSU Wind Ensemble and Symphony Band and associate conductor of the NSU Fall Wind Ensemble.

Since 1996, Mathews has also served as commander and conductor of the 531st Air Force Band based in Fort Worth. In that position, he conducts 35 professional musicians. Mahews compiled and issued a compact disc and completed an extensive musical audition process. As commander and conductor, Mathews coordinated and conducted summer tours in Wisconsin, New Mexico and the Czech Republic. The 531st Air Force Band was the first Air National Guard band to tour a foreign country as part of the U.S. State Department's Partnership for Peace Program with former Eastern Block countries.

From 1992-96, he was assistant band director at Garland High School for the Performing Arts in Garland, Texas. Mathews was also band director at Haughton High School and music director for grades five through 12 in Rosepine.

A graduate of Northwestern, Mathews received a Bachelor of Music Education in 1990 and a Master of Music Education at the University of North Texas where he also served as a teaching fellow.

Main Menu