A Tribute to John P. Paynter — Memories & Stories, Part 5
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.
John Paynter leads the Northshore Concert Band at the Ravinia Festival — July 4, 1975.
Michael Peterson
“When I was a college senior, I auditioned for a spot in Mr. Paynter’s graduate conducting program at Northwestern University. I had heard he had eyes that could cut through you like a hot knife through butter, and I thought I was prepared for that in the audition. The audition piece was Howard Hanson’s Chorale and Alleluia. The audition consisted first of playing through the entire piece with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble as our lab band, then demonstrate rehearsal skills with a portion to be selected by Mr. Paynter himself.
“Heart pounding, I stepped up on the podium and regaled all with what I thought was my amazing conducting technique. One completed, I assumed he would ask me to do some large section to demonstrate my rehearsal skills. So, what did he ask me to do? The first three measures. Only. I was to rehearse the group for five minutes on those three measures.
“I did something for what seemed like hours, then stopped and looked back to the table where he was sitting. Those eyes were peering at me over the top of his readers — no comment, no changed facial expression, nothing to let me off the hook. I’m guessing I had about four minutes left, so I did something, whatever that was. At some point he did let me off the hook. I wasn’t even enrolled and had already experienced ‘the look.’
“In the end, he accepted me into his graduate conducting program — the most amazing year I ever had. I’m sure I took ‘the look’ with me, and I’m guessing some of my kids over the years had a similar experience. They just didn’t know they were getting it vicariously.”
John Paynter with his mentor and Northwestern University predecessor, Glenn Cliffe Bainum — 1972.
Pam Spriester Bell
“My parents, Dorothy Zarbock Spriester (horn) and Alfred E. Spriester (trumpet) went to college with John Paynter and were lifelong friends. They both played in the Northshore Concert Band beginning around 1962 until the 1990s.
“For some reason, John Paynter had Glenn Cliffe Bainum’s cigarette lighter after Bainum died — I understand Bainum smoked all the time. I don’t know what circumstance led John to give my dad the lighter, but he did, and dad held onto it for many years. We didn’t even know about it until much later in my dad’s life. When he passed away, we returned the lighter to its rightful home at Northwestern University. When my dad retired from the Northshore Concert Band, John wrote him a beautiful letter, which we still have to this day.
“I remember dad saying John was not a good clarinetist, but a great conductor that could hear the individual players in the band. One summer while I attended the Northwestern University high school music camp, Mr. Paynter stood behind the flute section to take a listen — it was very intimidating having him there!”
Milton Sabin
“I was a member of the Northshore Concert Band from 1981 to 2000, prior to snow birding to Florida. I loved being a member of the band, and loved being conducted by John and his assistant, Barbara Buehlman. For most of my time with the band, I was John’s income tax preparer. He was a great band leader and a wonderful person to me — I will never forget him.”
Lucille May
“John was a classmate of mine in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, from first grade on. I remember him as a very nice boy and incredibly smart — always musical. In high school, we would be given an hour to complete a test. John would rush through the test, finish in fifteen minutes, and be excused to go to the music room.
“Later in life, I attended a Northwestern University versus University of Wisconsin football game with another classmate from Mineral Point. We went down to the sidelines to visit John, and he was so happy to see us. He attended every Mineral Point High School class reunion. He was always a gentleman and extremely humble.”
Mineral Point High School band, with John Paynter and Marietta Morgan (later Paynter) circled.
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.