Trombone student selected to play
in Collegiate All-Star Jazz Ensemble

March 2, 2005--Blake Howerton of Paragould has been selected to play in the Collegiate All-Star Jazz Ensemble at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, at the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) South Central Conference this April.

Howerton, a sophomore music education major at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, was selected on the basis of a recorded audition. He was chosen as a participant from a pool of college jazz trombone players across five states including New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Howerton is one of only three Arkansas students selected for the 17-member jazz ensemble which will be under the direction of Dr. Richard Dunscomb, coordinator of the conference and music department chair at Columbia College of Chicago.

Howerton will have the opportunity to be on stage with famed jazz alto saxophone player, Joe Eckert from the Airmen of Note, and will also study under world renowned jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis.

At ASU, Howerton studies trombone with Dr. Neale Bartee, professor of music, and jazz with Dr. Ken Carroll, assistant professor of music.

A 2003 graduate of Paragould High School, he is the son of Lane and Audra Howerton of Paragould. 

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