05172017 - Walk of Fame Recipient Neil Slater (May 2017) I"0
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DENTON LindseyN. Baker • (940) 349-8234 • Lindsey.Baker@cityofdenton.com
Denton Arts Walk of Fame Honors Neil Slater
DENTON, TX, May 17, 2017—The Denton Arts Walk of Fame will honor Neil Slater on
Saturday, May 20, at 2 p.m., beginning at 217 E. Hickory. Following a ceremony led by Mayor
Chris Watts, attendees will walk to Harvest House at 331 E. Hickory, where members of the
University of North Texas' (UNT) One O'Clock Lab Band will perform a selection of Slater's
compositions.
Neil Slater assumed the responsibilities as Director of the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band and
Chair of the UNT Division of Jazz Studies in 1981. During his 27 years at UNT, Slater
significantly expanded program offerings, initiated and guided a master of music degree in jazz
studies, created new performing ensembles, added new faculty lines and enhanced jazz
scholarship offerings.
Slater is a noted jazz pianist and award-winning composer and arranger, a National Endowment
for the Arts Fellowship Grant recipient, and a National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Grammy Award nominee. In addition to creating more than 70 compositions for jazz ensembles,
Slater has written for symphony, mixed chamber groups, a cappella chorus and theater. The
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)bestowed its "Standard
Award"upon Slater each year from 1987-2014. Many of Slater's jazz ensemble compositions
can be heard on the recordings of the UNT One O' Clock Lab Band.
As a renowned jazz educator, Slater has shared his expertise in clinics with students in Australia,
Japan, Hong Kong, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Thailand and universities from Rhode Island to
California. A former member of the Stan Kenton Orchestra-In-Residence program, Slater has
recorded and performed with artists including Mel Lewis, Joe Morello, Sal Salvador, Frank
Strozier, Don Elliott, Bill Watrous, and Danny Stiles.
Running along both sides of East Hickory Street from Locust Street to Bell Avenue, the Walk of
Fame honors artists with ties to Denton. Each year, artists are selected from fields of music,
literature, architecture, and visual and performing arts.
Contact: Julie Glover, (940) 349-7732,Julie.Glover@cityofdenton.com
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