Photo Credit: Northwestern State University Alumni Columns
Induction was held in tandem with the third annual President’s Command Performance, a spring gala to celebrate the arts and showcase the talents of students and faculty in the School of Creative and Performing Arts.
Colleen Lancaster, Jerry Payne and Lenn Dohmann Prince were selected for induction into the CAPA Hall of Fame based on their lifetime achievements and contributions to the life of the arts at NSU, Natchitoches, the region, the state, nationally and internationally.
Payne, of Marshall, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education at NSU in 1957 and 1968, specialist in education in 1969 and doctorate in music education in 1973. In a career spanning 45 years, he was a music educator for 20 years in Louisiana and 25 years in Texas, including four years as director of bands at NSU. During that time, Payne led his bands in numerous competitive performances and was recognized with several professional honors.
Payne attended NSU on a band scholarship and became the student leader for the popular Demonaires. During his undergraduate years, he played a critical role in helping charter the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, serving in numerous leadership roles, including a term as president in 1957.