Van Henry, retired, has held the position of Director of Bands in the College Station ISD, Bastrop ISD, Elgin ISD, and Dallas ISD. Bands under his direction have consistently earned the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL) sweepstakes award. His Elgin High School symphonic band was awarded the Texas Music Educator’s Association (TMEA) honor band award and performed at the annual TMEA convention. Mr. Henry is the first African American to have achieved this honor in the state of Texas. Bands under Mr. Henry’s direction have earned numerous state honors and have performed for the Superintendent’s of Texas during their annual convention, President Bill Clinton, during his visit to Austin, Texas.
Van has conducted numerous All Region Bands in Texas and Louisiana and has served as adjudicator in over 100 band contests throughout the years. He is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator and guest director in Texas, Pacific Northwest and the South. As an active adjudicator he has judged both marching and concert events in Great Britain, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Idaho and Washington As member of Phi Beta Mu, Mr. Henry also mentors a number of band directors in the state of Texas.
Mr. Henry has served on the UIL Blue Ribbon Realignment Committee, the UIL
Sight Reading Revision Committee, TEA Textbook Revision and Adoption Committee. Additionally, he has served as band chairperson for TMEA Region 18 and TBA Region 8 band chair. He has given sight reading clinics in eight different regions and has presented three clinics at the Texas Music Educator's Annual Convention (TMEA) and the Texas Bandmasters Annual Convention (TBA).
Mr Henry holds degrees from Rider University (BA), Abilene Christian University (BMed) and the Master of Music Education degree from Southwest Texas State University (Texas State University).
Van has conducted numerous All Region Bands in Texas and Louisiana and has served as adjudicator in over 100 band contests throughout the years. He is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator and guest director in Texas, Pacific Northwest and the South. As an active adjudicator he has judged both marching and concert events in Great Britain, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Idaho and Washington As member of Phi Beta Mu, Mr. Henry also mentors a number of band directors in the state of Texas.
Mr. Henry has served on the UIL Blue Ribbon Realignment Committee, the UIL
Sight Reading Revision Committee, TEA Textbook Revision and Adoption Committee. Additionally, he has served as band chairperson for TMEA Region 18 and TBA Region 8 band chair. He has given sight reading clinics in eight different regions and has presented three clinics at the Texas Music Educator's Annual Convention (TMEA) and the Texas Bandmasters Annual Convention (TBA).
Mr Henry holds degrees from Rider University (BA), Abilene Christian University (BMed) and the Master of Music Education degree from Southwest Texas State University (Texas State University).