Performing at JEN-New Orleans

I am pleased to announce that my band, Clarence Hines Jazz Orchestra, will be performing at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference in New Orleans on Saturday, January 10th. The performance will feature original music and a couple of my arrangements. More details will be posted as the event approaches.

2025 LMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble in New Orleans

I recently had the incredible opportunity to direct the 2025 LMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble in New Orleans, and I couldn’t be more proud of the talented students who participated. Over the course of two and a half days, these young musicians dedicated themselves to learning and rehearsing a challenging and exciting program, culminating in a fantastic 50-minute concert that showcased their hard work and musical growth.

The concert program featured a diverse selection of jazz standards and contemporary pieces, including:

• The Eternal Triangle – Sonny Stitt/arr. John Clayton

• Boogaloo – Clarence Hines

• Footprints – Wayne Shorter/arr. Mike Tomaro

• Trav’lin’ Light – Young, Mundy, Mercer/arr. Nelson Riddle

• Cheek to Cheek – Irving Berlin/arr. Mark Taylor

• The Star-Crossed Lovers – Strayhorn, Ellington/trans. David Berger

• Cute – Neal Hefti/arr. Bob Mintzer

• What Is This Thing Called Love – Cole Porter/arr. Alan Baylock

The ability of the students to come together as an ensemble in such a short time and perform at an excellent level is truly commendable. Congratulations to all the students for their outstanding performance, and a big thank you to LMEA for organizing such a wonderful event. It was an honor to work with such a talented group of young musicians.

Peña Amaya - Upcoming Performance

Exciting news! The Western University Wind Ensemble will perform my composition Peña Amaya in their upcoming “Echoes and Reverberations” concert. The concert takes place on December 1st and the program includes March in F by Ludwig van Beethoven; Geschwindmarsch by Beethoven by Paul Hindemith; Pena Amaya by Clarence Hines; Variations on America by Charles Ives; and Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein.

Recording Update #2: Sneak Peek of Rough Mixes

Hey everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to give you an exciting update on my recording project. While the project is still a work in progress, I wanted to give you a little taste of what's to come. So, here's a brief sample of some of the music that’s been recorded so far. Please keep in mind that these are rough mixes and there's still a lot of fine-tuning and polishing to be done. But I hope you'll enjoy this sneak peek:

chinesmusic · Recording Project Update #2

These rough mixes are just the beginning, and I'm thrilled with how they're shaping up. As for the album release date, I'm aiming to share it with you all in the coming months. In the meantime, I'll continue to keep you updated on the progress of the project.

Stay tuned, and until next time!

Featured on Wind & Rhythm!

I am thrilled to announce that "Peña Amaya," a composition for wind ensemble, was recently featured on an episode of Wind & Rhythm. This nationally acclaimed radio show broadcasts on over 50 NPR affiliate radio stations across the country. Additionally, you can catch the show live-streamed through the stations’ websites during the show’s regular broadcast hour. If you happen to miss the live broadcast, don't worry! Wind & Rhythm offers convenient On Demand access to the episodes via your browser or mobile device.

In case you missed it, "Peña Amaya" took center stage on Episode 722: Going For A Hike, which was produced in June. This particular episode celebrated the natural beauty of the great outdoors and the undeniable connection between music and nature. Listening to "Peña Amaya," you will instantly be transported to the vibrant colors of the Spanish countryside and the serene tranquility of the mountain's summit.