The G. Darrell Holt Music Endowment

The G. Darrell Holt Music Endowment

G. Darrell Holt was an associate professor of music at Stephen F. Austin State University where he taught for more than 30 years. Many will remember his outstanding work with the Swingin' Axes jazz band, the highly successful jazz festivals that he organized, and the numerous students and composers he helped train in theory, scoring and arranging, and composition classes. Coming to SFA in 1969, Darrell quickly became a nationally known clinician in the jazz area, both instrumentally and vocally. He also was very active as an adjudicator at numerous music festivals throughout the United States.

He did extensive work in recording studios as a conductor, arranger, composer and performer, and produced over 40 albums. As a performer, he played opening shows for Rich Little, Bob Hope and B. J. Thomas. In addition, he wrote several arrangements for the San Antonio Symphony performance on the SFA campus with trombonist Carl Fontana as guest soloist and also a number of arrangements for Eddie Daniels. He received a National Endowment of the Arts grant to write a composition for jazz band and jazz choir. His jazz band, The Swingin' Axes, performed over the years with Ed Shaughnessy, Bobby Shew, Gary Foster, Marian McPartland and Arnett Cobb, among others. Shortly before his death, he completed the swing arrangements for LeAnn Rimes' new album.

Darrell had many publications to his credit. He published several compositions for concert and jazz band with Northeastern Music Publications. His trumpet piece, Trumpets of Jubal, was performed as the International Trumpet Guild held at the University of North Texas in Denton on May 19, 1988. This piece was commissioned by the Lamar University Trumpet Ensemble. In May 199, he also had one of his compositions, Stephanie's Blues, was performed at the International Trumpet Symposium.

He performed at the Folklife Festival in San Antonio as pianist-vocalist for many years and was also the leader of the Nacogdoches Jazz Band which performed there each summer. In April 1989, Darrell was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award presented by the SFA School of Music at its annual awards banquet, Extravaganza 2.

Darrell earned his bachelor of music education degree from SFA and a master's degree from the University of North Texas.

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Please mail donations to:

G. Darrell Holt Endowment Fund
c/o SFA School of Music
Box 13043 SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3043

All checks should be made out to the:
"SFA Foundation" with a memo that it is for the G. Darrell Holt Endowment.

Department of Music
Stephen F. Austin State University
Box 13043, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3043
Phone: 936-468-4602 | Fax: 936-468-5810
Dr. Ron Anderson, Chair
Roni Lias, Webmaster