A Tribute to John P. Paynter — Memories & Stories, Part 2
Celebrating the life and legacy of our friend and founder, A Tribute to John P. Paynter chronicles Mr. Paynter’s impact on the lives of countless individuals through his time on the podium at Northwestern University, leadership of the Northshore Concert Band, and encounters over his lifetime.
Bruce Briney performs Herbert L. Clarke’s From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific with Northshore Concert Band under the baton of John P. Paynter. Gillson Park, Wilmette, July 3, 1984.
BRUCE BRINEY
“I was incredibly fortunate to interact with John Paynter as a graduate trumpet student at Northwestern University. My high school band director, Dean Sayles, encouraged me to meet with him when I first arrived in Evanston the summer before the start of my degree program. That meeting is still vividly clear in my memory — I descended to the lower level of Regenstein Hall and met his secretary who led me into his office. We exchanged pleasantries and in gentle tones he asked me what brought me to Northwestern. I excitedly told him that I came to Northwestern to study trumpet with Vincent Cichowicz and aspired of becoming an orchestral trumpet player. Mr. Paynter commented on Cichowicz’ skills as a pedagogue and then from pleasantries to complete directness, he said, ‘What are you going to do if you don’t make it as a player?’ Stunned by his frankness, I blurted out the first comment that came to mind. ‘I’ve never thought about not making it.’
“To this day, I’m not sure if it came off confidently or sheepishly as ‘Hmm… haven’t thought of that but maybe I should!’ Leaving his office, I felt like I had completely bombed this brief personal interview. Later that day, I received a call from Assistant Director of Bands, Don Owens, who told me that Mr. Paynter was incredibly impressed by our meeting and wanted to offer me a graduate assistantship to work on his band staff! I was elated and definitely not expecting this outcome after our initial contact.
“John Paynter became an important mentor for me and was a pivotal part of the early years of my career. He helped me and offered so many opportunities such as inviting me to play some cornet solos with the Northshore Concert Band and sitting in the trumpet section for the remainder of a summer season. He offered me a small stipend to play these concerts which came at a time when I had almost no income and I wondered how I’d get through each month. While I didn’t have a car, a kind and generous bass trombonist by the name of Paul Bauer would pick me up at the Howard Street train station and help shuttle me to Wilmette and Glenview. John Paynter’s inspiring leadership of the adult community band continues to influence me today in my own work with community music ensembles.”
MICHAEL STONE
“John Paynter was a favorite conductor of the University of Iowa All-State Music Camp. He and Frank Piersol, Director of Bands at the University of Iowa, were very close friends. I distinctly remember Professor Paynter directing the ASMC Gold Band (top band at the camp) while I played the little E-flat clarinet. For some strange reason, a number of band students started arranging a version of the Mickey Mouse theme, and he absolutely fell in love with it. He enjoyed it so much that he actually let us play it during a concert, and he proudly directed it with full joy! That John Paynter was a man of great integrity and joy!”
For more JPP stories, pictures, and more, follow along with our Tribute to John P. Paynter all week on Northshore Concert Band’s Facebook page.