Jazz performing artist Hank Hehmsoth heads the School of Music Jazz Piano studies, teaches graduate jazz composition, and is Director of Computer Applications in Music. He is Senior Lecturer in Music Technology at Undergraduate and Graduate levels and is WebMaster for the School of Music.

He has two music piano performance degrees from UT Austin (student of John Perry) with doctoral and post-grad jazz work at NTSU (student of Dan Haerle) and Eastman (student of Bill Dobbins), including master classes with Alfred Brendel, Aaron Copeland, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Bill Evans, and Phil Woods. Hank has played with Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, and Phil Woods. In 1980, Hank joined Christopher Cross,winning 6 Grammies©, and an Academy Award© for Best Song (Arthur), with national and international tours with Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and Bonnie Raitt.
VIDEOS: The Hehmsoth Project (recent concert at Texas State)
MUSIC: The Hehmsoth Project

Other awards include 1979 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship grant in Jazz, 1981Cakewalk CAL programming contest winner. He founded Music Design Group1986 producing feature length film scores, documentaries, commercials, and multimedia. Guest MIDI/Computer Music artist at the "Austin Computer Expo/Fair" (1986-89). In 1991 Hank scored the feature-length film "Scary Movie", (now out on video). Hank is cited in "Who’s Who in Entertainment" since 1993. In 1995 the Austin Critic's Table nominated Hank "Best Musical Director" ("Hair'95"). In 1996 Hank was commissioned a new work "Ritú del Sol Andes: Diem" for the Austin Ballet, Toni Bravo Choreographer. Also in 1996 Hank was commissioned to compose a new musical including lyrics "Walk with Me", debuting at the Mary Mooden North Theatre / Melba Martinez Director. 1996 honoree at the Austin City Council Chambers "Live Music Capital of the World". In 1997 he scored the documentary "LadyBird Johnson" for the National Park Service (runs hourly at the Johnson National Historical Park, Johnson City, Tx.). In 2000 he produced a new arrangement of "Jesus Christ SuperStar Millenium Edition" for the Austin Music Theater/Paramount Theater featuring a Broadway Cast and national tour.

Additional professional activities include an Interactive Workshop, Seminar, and Master Class "Computers & Music (MIDI)" sponsored by the NARAS Foundation, Inc., which also Hank is a lifetime Voting Member for the "GRAMMY© Awards". In show business Hank has performed and toured with Bonnie Raitt, Fleetwood Mac ("Tusk" tour), The Eagles ("The Long Run"), Christopher Cross, Beverly Sills, Bob Hope, Chuck Berry, Count Basie, JoAnne Worley, Mikhael Baryshnikov, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Red Skelton, Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca, and Steve Allen. He has performed for Pres. George Bush, Pres. George W. Bush, Pres. Ronald Reagan, Mr. Jack Lemmon, Gov. Ann Richards, and Gov. Mark White. Hank's jazz band has performed benefit concerts for the Michael Jordan Foundation, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. In 2005 Casey Monahan, Director of the Governor's Texas Music Office, invited Hank to record on piano with Cirque du Soleil during their first recording studio visit to Texas. Hank has performed at Pres. Reagan White House, Pres, Johnson Texas White House, Tokyo Budhakan, London Palladium, New York Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Greek Theater, Orlando Disney World, NYC The Bottom Line, LA The Roxy, Las Vegas The Sands, Lake Tahoe Caesar's Palace, and Austin Frank Erwin Center. Appearances on TV include "Solid Gold©"(4 appearances), "Academy Awards© " (1981), "GRAMMY© Awards", "Late Night w/ David Letterman©", "Midnight Special - ABC©", "ABC's 20/20©", "On The Road w/ Charles Kuralt©", and "Austin City Limits©". Theater work includes "Hair" - Musical Director, "Walk with Me" -Musical Director, "Jesus Christ SuperStar" - arranger, "Beauty and the Beast" (original Disney production), "Chorus Line", "Tommy Tune", "Scrooge", "Nunsense II (the second coming)", "Together Again", "Nosferatu" (1922) , "Wings" (1927) , "Androcles and the Lion", and Austin's own "Esther’s Follies".