Henry Panion

Henry Panion III is a professor in the Music Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which he chaired from 1994 to 2000, and is active in the production of popular and gospel music.

Panion earned his masters in music education from Alabama A&M University and a doctorate in music theory from Ohio State University.

Since 1992, Panion has conducted and arranged for Stevie Wonder, leading the world’s most notable orchestras: Royal Philharmonic, Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, Orchestra of Paris and more. Panion has collaborated with The Winans, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and the Blind Boys of Alabama. His work has earned two Grammy and two Dove awards. Orchestras from across North America have performed many of Panion’s own works.

In 1995 Panion was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. From 1995 to 1997 Panion served as music director for the Birmingham Metropolitan Orchestra.

Panion has produced recordings for numerous artists, such as Ruben Studdard, Tekneek, SuperJazz Big Band with Ellis Marsalis (co-produced wth UAB Jazz Ensemble director, Ray Reach), Juanita Bynum and Jonathan Butler. The CD, Gospel Goes Classical, featuring Bynum and Butler, ranked high in the top 10 in both the Gospel and the Classical Crosover categories in Billboard.

Panion is the founder of ComPanion Enterprises which, in April 2006, purchased the Audiostate 55 recording studio in Woodlawn for use in its educational mission.

References

• "Panion's "Gospel Goes Classical" Recording Makes Music History on the Billboard Charts." [1] (November 13, 2006). UAB.

External links

• Henry Panion website
• Henry Panion profile at the UAB Music Department website