Renowned composer Jay Bocook returns to the University of Louisiana at Monroe as the School of Visual and Performing Arts 2015 Composer-In-Residence during the week of February 23.
Upon his arrival, Bocook will rehearse with ULM student ensembles, and talk with composition students. He will also speak to ULM music majors and prospective majors at 11 a.m., on Tuesday Feb. 24, in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall.
A free concert will be held featuring the ULM Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Jason Rinehart and the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Derle Long. The groups will present a concert of Bocook’s original compositions and arrangements. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 24 in Brown Auditorium and is open to the public.
Mr. Bocook received his Master's in Music Education degree from ULM in 1977. Upon completion of his graduate work, Mr. Bocook moved to South Carolina as director of bands at Travelers Rest High School, where he built the band program into a nationally recognized organization culminating with the National Band Association's highest accolade: one of the "Top Ten Marching Bands in the U.S."
While at Travelers Rest, Mr. Bocook was also writing band music for Jenson Publications of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This relationship flourished into his full-time appointment as Jenson's Director of Band Publications in 1980. Over the next few years, he established himself as one of the top composers and arrangers of band music in the country, including arrangements for the opening and closing ceremonies at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In 1982, he was appointed director of bands at Furman University. Since 1988, he has been associated with some of the top Drum Corps in the country as arranger and music consultant, notably the Spirit of Atlanta and most recently the Cadets of Bergen County.
