By Ali Leding, Staff Writer
Eastern Oklahoma State College recently hired a new Music Director, Brian Harris. While Harris is new to Eastern, he brings in many years of experience in music education. He received his first degree, a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Then he taught for five years and went back to school to get his master’s degree in Music and Instrumental Conducting from Youngstown State University in Ohio.
After his earning his master’s degree, he proceeded to teach at a Catholic high school for a few years. Then he left and was offered his first job as an assistant marching band director at St. Francis University.
After being at St. Francis University for about three to four years, Harris decided he wanted to start working on his doctorate degree, and now he is one year into the Doctorate of Musical Arts program from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music.
Harris became interested in music at the age of 10 when the school allowed the children to pick an instrument to play. Harris says he picked the trombone because his grandfather and father both played that instrument.
“The first day I had it, I was already playing music, and it was pretty fun,” Harris says. “That was just my focus, and from then on, from 5th grade through, music was just my thing.” Harris can also sing. He even made the top choir his first audition in college.
The biggest goal Harris has is to grow the program, and with the focus being to get a student prepared to move on and get their bachelor’s degree in music. Also, he wants to provide a good ensemble experience while in the program. Another goal is community outreach. He wants to bring outside musicians in and let them be apart of the program.
“We like it,” says Harris in discussing the move from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma. “My wife and I really like it. The biggest thing we have noticed is the grass. The grass is very different. It is long and thin and gets everywhere. Our grass is a little beefier, and it’s not as long.”
Anyone who is interested in the Eastern Music Program can contact Harris at bharris2@eosc.edu or give him a call at (918) 465-1790.
