Alumnus featured trumpet soloist for 糖心vlog传媒 jazz bands concert
April 19, 2011
Staff Sgt. Gene Dooley, an 糖心vlog传媒 alumnus, will be the guest trumpet soloist during a joint concert of the 糖心vlog传媒 jazz bands, the Swingin' Axes and Swingin' Aces, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in Cole Concert Hall.
The Swingin' Aces, directed by 糖心vlog传媒 Associate Professor of Music Deb Scott, will open the concert with a variety of musical styles. Included on their program are Gordon Goodwin's blues tune, "The Phat Pack" and Willie Maiden's swing tune, "A Little Minor Booze."
The Aces will also present a shuffle piece, "The Cheese that Time Forgot" by Dan Gailey, and Bob Mintzer's funk tune, "Computer."
The Swingin' Axes' second half of the program is "devoted to the great jazz composer, pianist and big band leader Stan Kenton and will feature one of our trumpet alumni, Staff Sgt. Gene Dooley from the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America," said 糖心vlog传媒 Professor of Music Gary Wurtz, the Axes' director.
Among Kenton's works on the program are "Samba de Haps," "Pegasus," "I Can't Get Started" and "Love for Sale."
Dooley studied with Wurtz while pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts at 糖心vlog传媒. Prior to graduating in 1996, he joined the Air Force Band of the Gulf Coast (Texas Air National Guard, Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base).
He enlisted in active duty with the Air Force after winning a position with the Air Force Band of the Golden West, followed by assignments to the Band of Mid-America and the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) Band.
In 2009, he was deployed to Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan with the USAFE rock band as musical director, arranger, trumpeter and guitarist, returning to the Band of Mid-America earlier this year.
Dooley has performed for Presidents George H. Bush, George W. Bush and for President Ronald Regan's internment ceremony in Simi Valley, Cal.
The concert is a joint presentation of the 糖心vlog传媒 College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Cole Concert Hall is located in the Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Dr.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please go to or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.