Interview with Ernest Jennings: UW band director a force on campus, in the community

by Joi C. Ridley   Ernest Jennings is finally at a point in his career that he had always aspired to. "Teaching band at university level was always a goal and dream for me," said Jennings, 38, adding that any band musician worth his salt dreams of getting to that level. Jennings started as assistant director of the Marching Band and percussion resource coordinator for the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the 2007-'08 school year. He teaches the band's drum line and conducts one of the UW School of Music's university bands. Jennings says his new position at the UW surfaced "by chance and by luck." He was a student at the University of Iowa working on his DMA (doctor of musical arts), with one recital left, when the opportunity arose. "I was in the right place, at the right time, with the right credentials," he said. Yet the move wasn't an easy sell for Jennings. Most important, he was hesitant about living away from his wife while she finished a graduate program at Iowa, but his professors pushed him to take the worthwhile opportunity. "We figured it only cost me $1.35 to mail the application and see what would happen," he recalled. Jennings visited the UW campus for an interview and was offered the position, which presented a new challenge: create and perform his final recital to complete his degree in five weeks, a task which takes many students up to a year to complete. He was successful, though, and within days of his last performance was on the road to Madison. He and his wife have maintained a long-distance relationship since that moment. This sudden move follows in a string of relocations for Jennings, the most prominent of which has been his 14-month deployment to Iraq as a platoon leader in "Operation Iraqi Freedom," where he was promoted to the rank of captain.  Yet even during his time on the battlefield, music was a part of his life: Jennings served in the U.S. Navy Steel Drum Band for four years , as well as in the 34th Army Band. As a former member of the Iowa Army National Guard, Jennings received his commission in 2001 through the Iowa National Guard Officer Candidates School. During his active duty, he received several commendations for his service and leadership. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1997, but he's still in the Wisconsin Army National Guard as S1 (personnel officer) and is detachment commander with the 641st Troop Command Battalion in Madison. Jennings' unique life path is complete with two personas. One serves his country through military service; the other is an educator. At times he finds this a difficult balancing act. "I'm learning to become a citizen soldier," he says. "Once a month I have a duty as a soldier, and the rest of time I'm a civilian."   Jennings says that his deployment in the military taught him many things, mostly to appreciate life and to hope for an opportunity to continue his craft. His military experience has given him patience and the ability to prioritize and be goal-focused on his "mission."  Alongside his professional and military experiences, Jennings has kept education at the forefront of his personal "mission," as well. He earned a B.A. from Limestone College, a B.M.E. (bachelor's in music education) from Drake University, an M.A. in percussion performance from the University of Iowa (the previously mentioned recital obviously went well), and is a graduate of the U.S. Navy School of Music.  "I haven't arrived totally; I'm still en route to that top level of my life," Jennings says. Where that level may be he doesn't yet know, but with his academic, professional, and military background, he definitely can write his own ticket. "I've given myself a few options," he says. Since his arrival in Madison, Jennings has been pleased with his new homestead, saying he hasn't seen or heard anything negative about the city. "I love Madison. It reminds me of Iowa City, because there is so much to do here. The city is very bike-friendly, which is nice, because I'm very 'outdoorsy'," he said. However, Jennings does have two observations about his new locale: "Things here close so early." A self-admitted "workaholic," Jennings says he usually works until 8 or 9 p.m. each evening, and "when I'm done, many of the restaurants and stores have closed." Since he'd lived in Iowa for a few years, Jennings knew about harsh winter weather, but his first winter here still took him by surprise "When I arrived, I just knew I could take whatever [weather] Wisconsin could give," he said. In fact, during the first few storms, he challenged forecasters to "bring it on." But the South Carolina native admits that this year's winter storms served more snow in three months than he'd seen in four years in Iowa. Jennings adds that he loves the diversity of Madison's population and hopes to get involved with the city's African American youth community. "I think it’s important for kids to see people of their own color doing something positive and listening to their issues. This could help change their lives," he says. Before he came to the UW, Jennings taught band classes at a high school level for four years. He used this as a time to continue his craft as a musician, educator, and role model. Jennings said he was drawn to the UW by the band program's drive to succeed. "This band has a lot of traditions," he says, adding that he is eager to learn and join the legacy of one of the most widely recognized bands in the nation. He's confident in his abilities and says he has "the integrity to ask questions about what I don't know." He admits that he still doesn't understand the "Jump Around" band segment, a favorite of band members and fans alike, but he's learning. He also has a large group of willing mentors, both faculty members and students. "I thought I knew what loyal fans were with the Hawkeyes, but everyone here is so warm," he says. "They respect people who bring their experience and education to the table. I'm impressed by how approachable and open they are." Jennings' campus position requires him to travel frequently, due to the band's many appearances throughout the state, and he loves every moment of it. But he wasn’t accepted so easily at first. Jennings laughs as he recalls how he initially "had it rough" from the entire department because he comes from the University of Iowa, one of the UW's top rivals. He caught the most flak during the during the Wisconsin-Iowa football game, but he knows the jokes were all in good fun. One of his happiest memories so far, he says, has been the moment he gave the band directions and they actually followed them. To him, this meant that the band members had accepted him as "one of their own." He looks forward to taking this ideal into the rest of his new life in Madison. "I'm a Hawkeye in my blood, but I'm here now … I'm a Badger now," he says.