From Piano Keys to Brushstrokes:A Journey in Creativity The Horseshoe Bay Cultural Enrichment Society is proud to present Hank Hehmsoth—award-winning composer, jazz pianist, visual artist, and professor at Texas State University—for a dynamic lecture exploring the power of creativity across disciplines. A Fulbright Senior Specialist, NEA Jazz Composition Fellow, and member of the Grammy- and Academy Award-winning Christopher Cross group, Hank has spent his career pushing the boundaries of...
12 days ago • 1 min read
🎬 Austin’s Own Scary Movie Returns With original score by Hank Hehmsoth • Screenings + Q&A Over 30 years ago, Austin director Daniel Erickson created the cult classic Scary Movie, starring Academy Award–nominee John Hawkes. With a haunting score by Hank Hehmsoth, this locally made gem returns to the screen this Halloween season. 📅 Screenings + Q&A: • Sat, Oct 11 – We Luv Video (7:00 PM) — intimate venue screening • Wed, Oct 15 – Alamo Drafthouse Village (7:00 PM) — big screen experience Learn...
18 days ago • 1 min read
🎨✨ Sax Solo — Selected for The Big Show 2025 Sept 10 – Nov 1 • Artist Reception: Sept 21, 2–4 PM • Texas State University Round Rock Campus I’m thrilled to share that my painting “Sax Solo” (24″ × 30″) has been selected for The Big Show 2025, presented at the Texas State University Round Rock Campus by Round Rock Arts. The Big Show celebrates large-scale artworks and bold voices that command space and spark conversation. My piece is inspired by the energy of live jazz — where rhythm and color...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
🎨🎶 How Creative Ideas Actually Happen 💡 Where Do Ideas Come From? “A new idea is nothing more than a new combination of existing elements.” — Isaac Asimov Creativity doesn’t appear from thin air — it comes from connecting what you already know in new ways. You don’t need to wait for a lightning strike. You need to collect experiences, observe widely, and stay curious. The more perspectives, sounds, and visuals you absorb, the more pieces you’ll have to work with. The most creative people...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
🎷 John Mills Times Ten — The Years Roll By Album Release • Sunday, Oct 12 • Austin, TX Friends and students, I’m excited to share our new record with John Mills Times Ten. I’ve been in the band for 16 years, and John and I have been making music together for more than 50 years. I’m the pianist on every track — and I also created the album artwork you see above. The music blends deep grooves, lyric writing, and the kind of ensemble sound you only get from decades of listening together. We’d...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
🎹🎷 The 10,000-Hour Groove You’ve probably heard the saying: “It takes 10,000 hours to master something.” It’s not magic, and it’s not a hard rule — but it’s a powerful reminder about the role of time and focus in becoming truly great at what you do. The idea came from research on elite performers, including musicians. Psychologist K. Anders Ericsson found that world-class violinists, pianists, and athletes had something in common — by the time they reached the top of their field, they’d spent...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
🎨🎷 Seeing Sound / Hearing Color Thrilled to bring my 2026 Interdisciplinary Residency to Brazosport College this January–February! Seeing Sound / Hearing Color features my solo art exhibition, a jazz concert with Double Vision, a guest performance with the BC Jazz Ensemble, and an artist lecture exploring the connections between art + music + meaning. 🖼️ Gallery Show: Time Space Fabrics 📍 Location: Lake Jackson, TX 📅 Residency Week: Feb 2–6, 2026 🎶 Concerts: Feb 3 (Double Vision) & Feb 5 (BC...
3 months ago • 1 min read
🎹 Hank Hehmsoth Featured on KZSM 104.1 Tune in Wednesday, July 16 at 7PM CDT for a special feature on KZSM 104.1’s “It’s What’s New” with host Rob Roark — highlighting music by jazz pianist and composer Hank Hehmsoth. 🎧 From cinematic piano compositions to jazz trio legacy recordings, this is music that spans decades and defies categories. 📍 Station: KZSM 104.1 San Marcos or stream live at KZSM.org 🕖 Time: Wednesday, July 16 at 7PM CDT 🎙️ Host: Rob Roark – “It’s What’s New” 📀 Featured Tracks...
3 months ago • 1 min read
🎨 Sharpening Abstract, Creative & Fast Thoughts A toolkit for artists, thinkers & improvisers from Hank Hehmsoth | HPPAA In jazz and in life, improvisation isn’t random — it’s trained instinct. Try these tools when you feel stuck, slow, or need a spark. 🧠✨ 🔄 Flip Assumptions – Ask, “What if the opposite were true?” 🔁 Think in Reverse – “How would I ruin this?” Then do the opposite. 🔗 Use Analogies – “A jazz solo is like a sentence without punctuation — risky, but alive.” ⏱️ 5-Second Rule –...
4 months ago • 1 min read
