UW-Eau Claire lecturer shares world stage with Snoop Dogg, other music icons

“Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party,” which aired live on Netflix and has earned millions of views online since, also featured Grammy Award-winning country superstar Lainey Wilson, the voices behind Netflix’s show “KPOP Demon Hunters” and Italian vocalists Andrea and Matteo Bocelli.

Henton played the French horn as part of a 15-member STRINGenius orchestra performing on stage. He was one of 160 performers on the field for the 10-minute show that blended the rap icon’s greatest hits with holiday classics.

Following a grueling December schedule, Henton was planning to give himself the holiday off but answered an emergency email asking for freelance performers. A few messages later, he realized it was no ordinary holiday season gig.

“Usually, you know, it’s at a church. And then finding out that it was for Snoop Dogg and Andrea Bocelli was just like, woah — I have to say yes,” Henton says. “I don’t know if I'll get this kind of opportunity again.”

While living in Japan from 2014-17, Henton played in a stadium show that featured 10,000 singers and aired live across the country. The Christmas Day show was on a different scale, though, as nearly 67,000 fans were in attendance. Netflix surpassed 300 million paid memberships in 2024.

Henton says he realized the magnitude of the moment during four days of rehearsals, when 230 crew members practiced assembling the stage and sound equipment for the show in a mere four minutes.

“I just didn’t really think about what the spectacle of these shows are like,” says Henton, who had never attended an NFL game in person. “Seeing that many people running around and literally watching the stage be brought in piece by piece by a different crew of people and drilled together. I just had no concept that that’s what went into these shows.”

The mood was kept light by Snoop Dogg and his staff, and the rapper even asked to hear the orchestra play during rehearsals. He also shook hands with Henton and other members to show his appreciation.

On game day, Henton watched warmups on the field, then the first half backstage with musicians, dancers and other performers.

Running onto the field and performing at halftime was a blur.

“When you’re in the zone, you don’t really think about how many people are there or anything like that. It’s just making music and having fun,” Henton says.

Busy because he’s good

Henton is a substitute in the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Omaha Symphony. He’s involved with the Sphinx Organization, which transforms lives through arts, and is in his second year teaching at UW-Eau Claire. He worked 27 consecutive days in December, part of the reason he’s a top choice for top shows.

“Alex was my first go-to for one of the horn positions,” says Rebecca Arons, contractor and producer at STRINGenius, who was tapped to provide the orchestra ensemble.

“He’s an excellent performer and he is busy because he’s good,” says Dr. Nicholas Phillips, chair of the music and theatre arts department at UW-Eau Claire.

Henton usually has a performance or rehearsal every week during the school year.

Bringing genres, people together

Before the Vikings celebrated a win on the field, Henton and his cohorts toasted a successful show in a back room of the stadium. Everyone was allowed to keep their costumes, which meant a new white tuxedo for Henton. Snoop Dogg offered one more thank you in the hallway.

As he’s rewatched the show with family and friends, Henton has come to appreciate how the performance brought different genres and people together.

“That’s the whole point of music in a show. I think it’s just kind of the biggest show I’ve ever done that accomplished that,” Henton says. “It’s really cool to know that I was part of it.”