New leadership brings goals to music department
Professor Mike Bankhead comes from a musical background, which may be the reason why he was chosen as the new music department head.
Craig Jessop, dean of The Caine College of the Arts, said, “The students of Utah State University deserve the finest the world has to offer, so I picked up the phone and called this fine man and said ‘Mike I need you. We’re doing a search, and I need you to put your hat in the ring.'”
Before Bankhead was chosen as the new music head, he led a musical life. He attended Utah State as an undergraduate, but he played drums for his first dance gig in Ephraim, Utah, at 12 years old. He played in a country band at a place called The Bloody Bucket, in Preston, Idaho. He began playing the piano and oboe at a young age — and later taught Michael Ballam, director of the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, in high school — then learned to play the drums, bass and saxophone.
“I played in the Scotsman Jazz Band and in the pit orchestra for the opera,” Bankhead said. “Really, anything I’ve managed to do in my career started here at USU. It laid such a strong foundation for me.”
After his undergraduate education was complete, Bankhead said he was sent a draft notice to fight in the Vietnam War. His friend suggested that he instead apply for the Air Force, because then he could participate in the band.
“I’ve been shot at many times by critics and the media, but I have an aversion to lead bullets,” he said.
During that time, there was a job opening for director of the Singing Sergeants. He said he called his friend Craig Jessop, who was getting his doctorate of musical arts at Stanford, and offered him the job. When Bankhead accepted the position at USU, the role of boss was reversed.
After 22 years of serving his country, Bankhead retired as Lt. Col. and continued his music leadership career. He was the conductor of the Green Bay Symphony, the chairman of the music department at California State University, has been an invited guest conductor all over the world, and the director of the Sam Houston State University’s School of Music.
“You can’t forget that this man is not only a world class musician and conductor, but he also has an MBA,” Jessop said. “He knows the business side of music, too. He knows that just having great art won’t get the hay in the barn.”
Bankhead then said of Jessop, “This is the only guy who can use ‘great art’ and ‘hay in the barn’ and ‘great music’ in the same sentence.”
He said being an administrator in a music department is similar to being a conductor, in that you are bringing a wide variety of skills and talents together to solve separate problems — just like in music. He also said his and Jessop’s working relationship has been full of respect and admiration for one another.
“We can be absolutely straight with each other, which is rare when working with such huge projects as we deal with every day,” Bankhead said.
“I don’t view it as me being his boss. We’re all pulling in the same direction, and I knew that if Mike was here, we’d all have a good time,” Jessop said.
Kacee Cambron, a senior majoring in vocal performance, said, “In Dr. Bankhead’s orientation speech, he made it clear that his biggest priority with the students at Utah State was that there is complete honesty between the students and the administration. He seemed very approachable, and accepting. I’m really looking forward to the new things he’ll bring to the table.”
Bankhead said he is excited to be a part of the USU scene. He said the valley is beautiful, the school has excellent faculty and he loves how Cache Valley offers anything from a rodeo to an opera company, which he thinks makes Logan very special.
“But all you have to do is hang out in the hallways for a little while; the quality of people speaks for itself. The people here won’t settle for average, which is what I like,” he said.
But Bankhead said he is looking to make some changes and improvements in the program as well. He wants to expand the options for music degrees and increase the master’s programs that USU offers.
“We’re also working on a lot of special projects, ranging from weekend workshops to larger, year-long-themed events,” Bankhead said. “We’re also putting together show groups that range from rock ‘n’ roll to country. I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t want to be a musician or around musicians, or doing musical things. It was just something that was part of who I was as long as I can remember.”
— kate.marshall@aggiemail.usu.edu