Meet the Conductor of the Toccoa Jazz

Yurii Henriques

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Yurii Henriques is Assistant Professor of Music and Music Education at Toccoa Falls College, where he teaches music and music education courses, coordinates the music education program, and directs the Concert and Jazz Bands.

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Mr. Henriques has taught and conducted in five states and three regions of the country. His teaching career began at Kingswood-Oxford School in Connecticut, followed by a position as Band and Orchestra Director at South Windsor High School. He has since taught at institutions including the Hartt School Conservatory, Samford University, Birmingham-Southern College, Covenant College, and Dordt College.

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As a conductor, Mr. Henriques has guest conducted orchestras, bands, and choruses throughout the country, including the Alabama Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra, Northwest Iowa Honor Festival Orchestra, Capitol Symphonic Winds, and the South Windsor High School Masterworks Chorale. He has also served as Music Director of both the Alabama Youth Symphony and the Northwest Iowa Youth Symphony Orchestra.

 

A versatile woodwind specialist, Mr. Henriques has performed with organizations including the Red Mountain Theatre Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Alabama Philharmonic Orchestra, Celtic Woman, Larnell Harris, and the Toccoa Jazz. He has also served as a clinician and adjudicator for school and college ensembles and as a jazz arranger for the award-winning University of Massachusetts Jazz Ensemble I.

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Throughout his career, Mr. Henriques has received numerous honors for his teaching and musical leadership. He has been selected four times for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, recognized by the American School Band Directors Association, named one of “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” by School Band and Orchestra Magazine, and received the Vulcan Award for Teaching Excellence at Toccoa Falls College.

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Most of all, Mr. Henriques is grateful for his family, his faith, and the opportunity to make music with musicians of all ages—from 9 to 90.