Jim Henry

(Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies)

Jim Henry holds degrees in vocal music education, music theory and music composition, including a Ph.D. in music composition from Washington University. He is currently the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he conducts the University Singers and Vocal Point and teaches choral methods, choral arranging, and choral conducting.  He was recently named the MCDA St. Louis Suburban District Outstanding Director and has been named the 2009 recipient of the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

In addition to his duties at UM-St. Louis, Dr. Henry is the musical and artistic director of the Ambassadors of Harmony, a 160-voice men's a cappella chorus that performs barbershop, jazz, and light classical music. The Ambassadors of Harmony have produced three recordings, and were recently named the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 2009 International Champion Chorus, garnering the highest score in the history of the BHS.

Dr. Henry’s singing experience spans classical music to jazz.  He currently sings bass with and arranges for Crossroads, who were recently named the 2009 BHS International Championship Quartet (making Dr. Henry the only man in history to win an International Competition as a singer and as a director in the same year).  Crossroads has performed across North American and Europe and have produced one recording.  Dr. Henry was previously the bass of the Gas House Gang, also International Quartet Champions. Over the span of 18 years, the Gas House Gang entertained audiences in all fifty states and fifteen countries, and in venues from the Grand Ole Opry to Carnegie Hall. They were featured on NBC’s “Today Show,” NPR's “At the Creation,” and two PBS specials, “Voices in Harmony” and “The Egg.” The Gas House Gang produced five recordings.  Dr. Henry served as bass section leader for the Saint Louis Symphony Chorus and sang bass with Odyssey, a popular St. Louis-based jazz quartet.

As a composer, Dr. Henry has won awards for his songs and piano pieces. He served for three years as composer-in-residence at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School under the aegis of Washington University, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, and the Buder Foundation. He was also a music mentor for the “Music, Words, Opera” educational program sponsored by Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Dr. Henry travels the world as a guest conductor, coach, and lecturer. He is also a contributing author for the Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, published by Routledge Press.

Contact Information

Fax: 314-516-6593