Released October 15, 2005

Hattiesburg– They say if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. But before percussionist Howie Joines took New York City by the horns, he had to make it past retired music professor Sherman Hong, who directed the percussion studio at Southern Miss for more than 26 years and taught music education courses and coordinated music student teachers.

Joines’ mentor from The University of Southern Mississippi recently caught up with his former student in the Big Apple, where the 1980 music education and Honors College graduate has been an active performer, conductor and music contractor for Broadway and off-Broadway shows in New York City and the surrounding area.

“I learned how to perform musically at USM, and that helped me prepare for conducting Broadway shows and singers,” Joines said.

Additionally, he has been active as a drummer/percussionist for recordings, Broadway soundtracks, touring Pop artists—Marvin Hamlisch, Whitney Houston, Ann-Margaret, and Pattie Lapone—and commercial jingles.

In 2000, Joines began contracting orchestras for Broadway and other productions. His Broadway successes in recent years include serving as music coordinator for the current show, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and orchestra conductor for Miss Saigon, The Full Monty, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

In addition to Broadway, Joines also has conducted for Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular.

He has recorded with Pop stars Celine Dion and Jewel, along with television recordings for the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards, the Today Show, Good Morning America, and Sesame Street.

After leaving Southern Miss in 1980, Joines received a teaching assistantship at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he taught undergraduate students and the Eastman Percussion Ensemble. He completed both the Master of Music and the coveted Performer’s Certificate from Eastman.

For more information, contact Angela Kilcrease at (601) 266-4988.

-30-