James Earl Henry (born 1964),[citation needed] most commonly referred to as "Jim Henry", is a vocal music professor, barbershop bass singer, and co-director of the
Ambassadors of Harmony (AOH). He is a multiple international award-winning quartet member, whose quartets have appeared nationally on the NBC, PBS, and Fox television networks. Henry is the current director of choral studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a contributing author of widely used musical reference works.[1][2]
Early life
Henry grew up in
St. Charles, Missouri and currently lives in
St. Peters. He was 11 years old when he wrote a letter to the Daniel Boone Chorus begging to join. Henry soon became its youngest member.[3][4] In 1981, notable arranger
David Wright joined the chorus as director and set the chorus on a path to excellence. About that same time, Henry met a transformative choir teacher and chose to make vocal music his life's work.[5] He graduated in 1986 from
Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, Missouri[6][7] and then completed his
doctorate in music composition from
Washington University[8] in St. Louis in 2000.
Career
Henry is the Director of Choral Studies at the
University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL),[9][10] where he conducts Vocal Point and the University Singers.[11][12] He teaches choral methods, choral arranging, and choral conducting. From 2013 to 2016, Henry was the chair of the music department at the university. He is the clinician for the Acappellooza Fall field trips and Acappellooza Summer music camps, both partnerships between UMSL and AOH.[13][14][15][16] He was previously head of the choral music department at
Lindenwood University[17][18][19] for nine years, during which time the University Chorus quintupled in size under his leadership. He also formed Voices Only,[20] an a cappella ensemble that performed at the 2004 Missouri Music Educators Association conference, toured Germany, Holland and Sweden, and produced a recording.[21] While at Lindenwood, he also taught and mentored 2004 Collegiate BHS Champions
Vocal Spectrum (who went on to be 2006
Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) International champions).[22][23]
Barbershop harmony
The Ambassadors of Harmony in Nashville performing their 2016 BHS Gold Medal-winning set
Henry is the musical and artistic co-director of the four-time
BHS international champion chorus, the Ambassadors of Harmony, a 130-voice men's
a cappella ensemble. He took over the reins of direction of the chorus from David Wright in 1990,[24][25] and since 2013 has co-directed with Jonny Moroni. He currently sings bass with and arranges for
Crossroads, 2009 BHS International Quartet Champions. Crossroads has performed worldwide, has appeared in television and radio broadcasts, and has produced three albums. Henry was previously the bass of the
Gas House Gang, 1993 International Quartet Champions. The Gas House Gang produced five albums, performed in all fifty states and fifteen countries.[12][26][27] Their television appearances and radio broadcasts include NBC's Today Show, NPR's Present at the Creation,[28] and PBS specials.[29] Henry, along with Brandon Guyton, Mike Slamka, and Fred Farrell formed Crossroads in 2007 as a traditional barbershop harmony quartet, a cappella music styles. Crossroads performs worldwide,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36] and has also appeared on national TV programs such as Fox & Friends Weekend.[9]
Henry travels worldwide as a guest conductor, coach, and lecturer.[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] His doctoral thesis was on the origins of barbershop harmony.[45] He is a contributing author for the Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music and the
Grove Dictionary of American Music. Henry also served as bass section leader for the Saint Louis Symphony Chorus.
Awards
2019: Inducted to the Hall of Fame of the Barbershop Harmony Society[46]
^Henry, Jim (November–December 2007).
"Gold Medal Moments"(PDF). The Harmonizer. pp. 16–25. Archived from
the original(PDF) on April 26, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
^Heinz, Ryan (Spring 2011).
"Two-part harmony". UMSL Magazine. p. 11. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
^Kunz, Michael (November–December 2004).
"Hearts Of Gold"(PDF). The Harmonizer. pp. 11–15. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
^Sullivan, Amy (February 15, 2002). "Humor & Harmony". Salina Journal. p. D1 – via Access Newspaper Archive.
^Lode-Gerke, Von Martina (March 8, 2004). "Blendender Barbershop und gehaltvolle Shows". Kultur in Dortmund. Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. p. WDO 05.