1990
Paul Jarvis (BS ’83, MM ’90): Paul served as a band director in various schools in Alabama in Georgia. In 1990 he left music to pursue a career in aviation. He lives now in Birmingham with wife Kathy and daughter Emory, and he works as a pilot for a major corporation.
Marjorie Johnston (BMus ’87 and MMus ’90): Marjorie is a Music librarian and member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. She is also a church musician
James Paul Sain (DMA in music composition, ’90): James is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida where he teaches electroacoustic and acoustic music composition, theory, and technology. He is the founder and director of the internationally acclaimed annual Florida Electroacoustic Music Festival. His compositional oeuvre spans all major acoustic ensembles, instrumental and vocal soloists, and embraces electroacoustic music. His works have been featured at national and international societal events. International residencies include those at the Swedish Royal Academy of Music, University of Oregon, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Lanús (Buenos Aires), Luther College, Folkwang-Hochschule Essen, Korean National University of Arts, Winthrop University, and EMS (Stockholm). Dr. Sain is currently SCI Executive Committee chair and a member of the American Composers Alliance. His music is available in print from Brazinmusikanta and American Composers Editions and on CD on the Capstone and Electronic Music Foundation labels. More information can be found at http://jamespaulsain.com/.
Julie Smith (BS in early childhood and elementary education, ’90): Julie has received the following honors: 2005-2006 Halcyon Elementary PTA Teacher of the Year; 2005-2006 Montgomery County Council PTA Teacher of the Year; 2005 and 2006 Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers; Model/Master Presenter at the 2006 National Renaissance Conference in Nashville, Tennessee; First teacher to earn Master Coordinator certification in Reading Renaissance. First teacher and students to certify as Model and Master in Math Renaissance
1991
Lee Black (BS ’91): Lee spent eight years in the Nashville area, writing songs and leading worship at a church. Now he, wife Melissa (BS Nursing ’86), and four children live in Fairhope, AL. Lee works as song development coordinator at Integrity Music in Mobile and serves part-time on the staff of Church on the Eastern Shore in Fairhope.
Dr. Alan Blackshear (BS in music education, ’71; MM in composition, ’81; DMA in composition, ’91): After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, Alan taught in the Altus, OK public school system from 1975-1978. He then taught at Wallace Community College (Selma) from 1981-1985, and he recently retired from Shelton State Community College (Tuscaloosa), where he directed the Shelton Jazz Ensemble and taught music theory and other related courses from 1985-2010. He plays trombone in the Shelton Jazz Ensemble and Tuscaloosa Winds and sings tenor a a local church where his wife, Glinda Blackshear, directs the choir.
Linda Gill (MM ’91): Linda has been assistant director of music and organist at First United Methodist Church in Montgomery since 1995. She also serves as director of the Montgomery MasterSingers.
Sam Hamm (BM 1991): Sam completed a PhD in music composition at the University of Florida in 2005. After spending a year as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Sam now holds the position of Assistant Professor of Music at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT. Sam and his wife Kimberly were married in August 2002, and to this point have accumulated more cats than children (4-0).
Lee Majors (BS ’91): Lee serves at Maytown Baptist Church (Birmingham) as Minister of Music, Education and Administration. He and Yolanda (Loni) Majors have 2 daughters, Amanda and Brittany.
Allison Brown Mays (BA, MA, EdS, JD, ’91): Allison is now an assistant principal at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Kerrie Mills-Cochran (BS in music ed ’91): Kerrie served 7 years as a band director in Alabama. She earned a masters degree in school counseling and has served for 6 years as a guidance counselor in the Cobb County school System in Georgia. Kerrie decided not to return to work for the 2007-2008 school year. She gave birth to twins in July 2007 and decided to be a stay-at-home mom for the moment. Kerrie lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, Rob, and her two children, Will and Madison.
Darlene Pounders Townsend (BA in music administration, ’91): After receiving her MLIS from UA and having her first child, Darlene began working as a librarian. She is currently a librarian at the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama (since 2001). She and her husband, Will, live in Florence with their two sons, Brady and Cooper.
1992
Chris Bentley (BA ’92): After graduating from UA, Chris continued to follow his interest in recording, composition and performance. He is now owner and head engineer of the Bunker Recording Studio in Baltimore, MD. His wife, Stacy, is an elementary school art teacher. They have two sons, Layne and J.P.
Mike Congiardo (MM ’92): Mike teaches band at West Middle School in Jackson, Tennessee. He and wife Suzanne Martin Congiardo have two dogs named Count Basie and Lady Day.
Bill Crabtree (BM ’90, MM ’92): While working on a DMA in conducting at Michigan State University, Bill completed his teaching certification. Currently, he lives in Phoenix, AZ, and works as a band director for the Peoria Unified School District.
Jeff McLelland (DMA ’92): Jeff recently returned to Alabama. After 17 years of college teaching, he is now Director of Music and Fine Arts at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham.
Michelle (Noel) Moebes (BM ’92): Michelle was graduated from Emory University with a master’s degree in physical therapy in 1999. She and husband Ben have a son, James, born in 2001.
Khristina Motley (BS in music education, ’92): Khristina received an M.A. in Education Curriculum and Instruction with a music concentration from VA Tech University in 1995. She is teaching in the Tuscaloosa County School System and is the mother of two boys and a girl that love to sing.
David Pineda (BM ’92): David is Artistic and Music Director of the Atlanta Chamber Orchestra, Inc.
Betsy (Vollers) Ringler (BM in music therapy, ’92): Betsy received her Masters degree from Texas Woman’s Univ in Occupational Therapy. She is currently Manager of Therapy at Zale Lipshy Hospital in Dallas and is married with two daughters: Allison is 4 and Ashlee is 13.
Jeanette (Turner) Ross (B.A. ’92): Jeanette is Operations/Personnel Manager for the Columbus (Georgia) Symphony Orchestra, and serves as orchestra director for the Edgewood Baptist Church in Columbus. Jeanette married Marty Ross in June, 1999.
Jonathan Smith (BM ’90, MM ’92): Jonathan is commercial real estate attorney in Dallas, Texas. He is a member of Dallas Symphony Chorus, Helios Ensemble, and Dallas Vocal Arts Ensemble, and he performs as pianist in the Dallas area with his pianist wife Jill, whom he married in July, 2000.
Brent Swain (BM in viola performance ’92): Brent and Dr. Kristen Alley Swain (MA, 1992) had their first child, Madeline Frances, on April 17, 2006 in Lawrence, KS.
1993
David Allinder (BS & MA in music ed, ’93): David is currently band director at Shades Valley High School in Birmingham. He is an active performer in the area and a staff musician at Hunter Street Baptist Church. He lives in McCalla with his wife Jennifer and their son Tanner.
Dr. Richard Byrd (MM ’93): Richard is now the president and CEO of Technical Operations, Inc., a Houston-based provider of information technology services. Ultimately earning a Ph.D. in information sciences, he now keeps his hand in, so to speak, by serving as the music director of the Woodlands Concert Band, a 75-member wind group based north of Houston.
Kim Haralson Enderle (BA ’93): Kim works as sales manager and coordinator for a licensing shop in Munich; previously, she worked for a German production company selling television programs to international broadcasters. She and husband Frank live in Ravensburg, Germany, only 30 minutes from the Alps.
Deborah Deming-Galloway (BM ’93): Deborah followed her music therapy degree with a master of music degree in voice performance from Georgia State University. Currently she is choir director at St. John’s Methodist Church in Edwardsville, Illinois.
Sarah Ovington (BS ’93): Sarah teaches at Shades Mountain Christian School and teaches private voice lessons at Southeastern Bible College.
Katheron (Reynolds) Latham (BM ’91, MA ’93): Katheron has a piano and voice studio in the Chattanooga area and coordinates the children’s choir at Bayside Baptist Church. Currently she serves as president of the Chattanooga Music Teachers Association. She and husband Chad have two sons.
Tabitha Schaffer McDaniel (BM ’93): Tabitha married husband Mark in 1995 and has had a variety of experiences in the music therapy profession. Currently she is staying at home with their two young daughters and is handling various family responsibilities.
Brad Sargent (BS in instrumental music ed., ’93): Brad completed his MM and DMA degrees in trumpet performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He’s in his sixth year on faculty at Samford University in Birmingham, AL. Brad is married to clarinetist Ann Dempsey of Port Huron, MI. They have two children, Henry and Katie, with their third child born in April 2006.
Shannon Forrester Watt (BS ’93): Shannon is married to Lewis and they have 2 sons, Lewis Jr. and John . They currently reside in Ridgeland, MS and she is teaching k3 music, 6th grade music, HS choir and drama at Madison Ridgeland Academy. She loves to spread the Roll Tide among the Ole Miss and Mississippi State crowd! She is also forever grateful to have studied with Karen White!
Judd Wiggins (BA in music, ’93): Judd is now an attorney and lives in Birmingham. He sends his congratulations to Prof. Penick for 50 years of molding great musicians!
1994
Dr. Frank Blanton (BS ’76, EdD ’94): Frank was drum major in the Million Dollar Band from 1973-1976. After graduating from UA in 1976, Blanton earned his MS from the University of Illinois in 1980 and then his EdD from UA 1994. He was the 1998 recipient of the Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra Teacher Fellowship Award. Blanton has served as the director of bands/coordinator of instrumental music in Mountain Brook City Schools since 2002, and he was the music director and conductor of the Alabama Youth Symphony from 2003-2006. He also served as the director of education for the Alabama Symphony Orchestra from 2003-2005. Blanton is married to Maria Kimetta Portabella Blanton, a native of Guatemala and Spanish teacher at Crestline Elementary School in Mountain Brook.
Jon Durkovic (MM ’94): Jon is the manager of the Historic Grand Theatre in Fitzgerald, Georgia and organist at Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church in Albany, Georgia. The Grand Theatre is the new home for a recently restored 1926 Barton Theater organ which is played before films and live shows as well as in concert.
Amy Aberg McLelland (MM ’94): Amber directs the McLelland Piano Institute in Birmingham and works as an assistant teacher at the Taubman International Summer Piano Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Jason Mingledorff (BM ’94): Jason has been busy working as a saxophone player in New Orleans since moving there in 1995. He has performed and recorded with Dr. John, Harry Connick Jr., Clint Black, and many great local bands, including Galactic, Papa Grows Funk, and The John Mahoney Big Band. He is currently an adjunct professor teaching saxophone and leading various jazz ensembles at Loyola University.
Brad Mitchell (BS in music education, ’94): Brad is living in Columbia, TN where he is the band director at Cox Middle School. He received his MA degree from MTSU in 1997. He is currently co-conductor of the Maury County Community Band in Columbia.
Jay Oden (BM ’94): Jay is organist/music associate at First United Methodist Church in Gastonia, NC. He is also organist for one Mass a week at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He and wife Milette have three children. Jay earned his master’s degree in church music from Shenandoah University in 2000.
1995
Jeff and Heather (BS & BM in music therapy, ’95): Jeff is currently in his 7th year as the director of bands at Oak Mountain Middle School. When he is not at school, he hangs out with his wife, Heather, and their 3 children, Hannah, Hayley, and Cole.
Ginger Bryant Bennett (BM ’95): Ginger and her husband, John, live in Suwanee, GA. Her music therapy practice (Allegrow! Music, Inc.) provides music therapy services to the greater Atlanta area.
Wendi Clark Grimes (BM in music therapy, ’95): Wendi finished a master of science in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2004. She then moved from Gulfport, MS to Dahlgren, VA and is now working as the continuity of operations planner for the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Roger Guilian (BA ’95, JD ’98): Roger serves as general counsel and assistant vice president of Volkert & Associates, Inc., an engineering and environmental consulting services firm headquartered in Mobile, AL with more than 20 offices throughout the United States. Roger and his wife Leslie live in Daphne with their son and daughter. Roger carries with him the work ethic and attention to detail taught by Dr. Welker to this day.
Stacey McCarthy (BM ’95): Stacey has moved from music therapy into administration, and she is director of a day treatment program for mentally ill adults. At home she has “a house/yard full” of animals to keep her company.
Vell Rives (BA in music, ’91; MD, ’95): Vell married Carmen Joy Stoll in 2002. They live in the Washington, DC area where he practices psychiatry and directs the choir at Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
1996
Brian Alexander (BA ’96): After attending UA, Brian went on to graduate from The University of Georgia with a Master of Social Work degree. His practice has mainly included work with adults with serious mental illnesses. He has lived in Louisville, Kentucky since 2002, where he works in the Homeless Veterans Program through the VA Medical Center.
Jeff Black (BA ’96): Jeff has been married since December 2001. He currently works for Protective Life Insurance in Birmingham and is pursuing a degree in history at UAB.
Lori Hodge Corley (BM in music therapy, 96): Lori has been director of Madison Station Senior Center since 2002. Lori was chosen as one of the Tennessean’s Top 40 Under 40 young leaders this year. She and husband Ed were married in 2001.
Heather Holtcamp (BM in organ performance, ’96): Since graduating, Heather has remained in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She is currently the Music Director at Holy Spirit Catholic Church where she enjoys being the organist as well as directing numerous choral and instrumental ensembles. In addition to her position at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Heather has worked as a professional pastry chef and has recently acquired her J.D. degree and has been admitted to the Alabama State Bar. You can email her here.
Jean-Ann Johnson Heupel (BM ’94, MM ’96 in clarinet performance): Heupel is two-thirds of the way through a Master of Divinity of Degree. She currently lives in Greenville, AL and serves as pastor of Friendship United Methodist Church. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Shannon Heupel, and they have a four year-old daughter, Cassie, and a 10 month-old son, Michael.
Keith Johnson (BS Management ’96): Keith married Mary Elizabeth Weinkauf of Brockport, NY in 1998. He returned home to Denver, CO in 2001 and now lives there with Mary Elizabeth and their two beautiful children. Alexa was born in 2002 and Miles in 2004.
Rochelle Blackstone Loney (BM ’96): Rochelle went on to earn an MM in music therapy from FSU. She and her husband, Christopher, married in May of 2000, and she is living and teaching music in Olathe, Kansas.
John T. Lowe, Jr. (MM organ and choral conducting ’96): After finishing school at UA, John completed a full-time internship at West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN from 1996-1998. He then went on to complete the Doctor of Organ and Church Music Degree at Indiana University, Bloomington in May 2005. In May 2003 he was appointed Director of Music and Organist at Ocala, Florida’s First United Methodist Church, where he plays the Wicks organ in worship and concerts, and administrates a comprehensive music program for the 2,000-member congregation. In addition to recital engagements, he directs the Central Florida Master Choir and is Dean of the Ocala Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Jonathan Powell (BS ’96): Jonathon is the band/choral director at West End High School in Walnut Grove, AL, as well as associate pastor/minister of worship at New Friendship Baptist Church in Arab, AL. He is married to Jeniffer Thrasher Powell, who teaches at West End Elementary School.
Katie Alterman Rosenberg (BM in music therapy, ’96): Katie has remained at the Weinstein Center in Atlanta for the past 9 years as the center/case manager. She and her husband Sammy have a son, born in 2006.
Barrett Seals (BM 1996): Seals received his MM in oboe performance at the University of North Texas and is currently solo English horn with the United States Coast Guard Band. Barret can be reached by clicking here.
Laura Yawn (M.M. ’96): Laura is organist and associate of music at St. Simons Island Presbyterian Church (GA), and she maintains a large studio of private students. She married Navy Lt. Kevin Lowe in July, 2001.
1997
Stephanie Bolton (BM in music therapy, ’97): Stephanie is currently employed as a music therapist for a large nursing home in Rochester, NY. She got married in 2002 and is currently participating in the distance learning music therapy graduate program at St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana.
Brock Culpepper (music administration & religious studies, ’97): Brock married Michaela Bice in November 2002. Their first child, Julia Charleston Culpepper, was born on May 21, 2005. Elizabeth Brentlee Culpepper was born on February 28, 2007. Brock works at Motion Industries in Irondale, AL and sings with Birmingham, Alabama’s Steel City Quartet.
Dr. Larry Hardin (EdD in music education, ’97): Having retired as Assistant Professor of Music Education at Jacksonville State University, Larry is currently serving as education director for the Birmingham International Center.
Ryan Hebert (BM ’97): Ryan is professor of music at Oklahoma City Community College, where he conducts two choirs and teaches other courses.
Rachel (Robbins) Jacobson (B.M. ’97): Rachel married Keith Jacobson in June, 2000, and she continues to provide therapy to patients at the Duke University Medical Center.
Jean Johnson (MM ’88; DMA ’97 ): Jean is on the full-time music faculty of Enterprise-Ozark Community College in Enterprise, Alabama, where she also serves as Distance Learning Coordinator. Dr. Johnson is also a church musician and performs chamber ensemble and solo organ concerts in the Southeast.
Sherry Watkins Matthews (BA ’97): Matthews has remarried and now is pursuing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Mississippi University for Women (although she may finish it at UA).
Holly Powe (BM in vocal performance, ’97): Holly went back home after graduation and started teaching. She got a Masters of Education in Music from Alabama A&M and took a job at Calhoun Community College, Decatur, AL as the choir director and music department coordinator. She is an adjunct faculty member in the voice area at Alabama A&M University and also has a private voice and piano studio in the Huntsville area. She accepted a fellowship to complete her DMA at the University.
Dr. Lavandolyn Robinson (BM in music therapy, ’97): Robinson has recently relocated back to Alabama the Beautiful and has launched out on her initial Music Outreach Ministry and Consultant services. Dr. Robinson’s formal love for the voice, music & ministry has allowed her to embark on her 1st Gospel Music CD release anticipated for Summer 2008. Her classical foundation has allowed her to provide music services and seminars throughout the east coast and midwest over the last 10 years. She continues to provide music applications for various special needs children and geriatric populations throughout her city as desired. Dr. Robinson still enjoys singing and songwriting when she is not traveling for the ministry/business. She was the featured soloist for the Prattville Community Chorus Christmas Concert 2005 as well as the soloist for various city/school and county functions and events. Music is still her first love.
Kimberly Felder Scott (BA in flute performance, ’97): Kimberly accepted a position on the music faculty at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She is currently the incoming chair of the Department of Music at ASFA, where she also teaches applied flute there. She regularly performs concerts and recitals across the U.S. and abroad. In 2000 she married Dennis Scott, and they have a son named Jaden.
Janie (Newbold) Walker (BS ’97): Janie is band director at Ransom Middle School in Cantonment, FL. She married Chris Walker, a CPA, in June 2000, and they reside in Pensacola, FL.
1998
Mary Ellen Brooks (BS education, ’98): Mary is currently the director at Huntland High School (TN) and proud mom to five year old, John Canaan.
Michele Champion (certification in music education, ’98): Michele completed her doctorate degree in music in July of 2006 and is currently an assistant professor of music at Augusta State University in Augusta, GA.
Mary Ellen Emmons (BS ’98): Mary is on sabbatical from Flintville (TN) Junior High while completing her master’s degree. She and husband Tim have a one year-old son, Canaan.
Alise Ferranti (music therapy ’98): Alise lives in Jacksonville Florida with her husband, Joe, and their two beautiful daughters, Lauren (12/03) and Darden (12/06). She is a realtor with Fred Miller Group and Joe is a project manager with Apex, an environmental consulting firm.
Sunny Speaker Hadder (BM ’98): Sunny started the Music Therapy program at UAB Hospital in 1999 and has been there full-time for the past year.
Chris Hillman (BA ’98): Chris graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in May 2002 with an M.D. and went on to pursue a specialty in anesthesiology.
Kevin Humphrey (BM ’98): Kevin currently lives in NYC. He is teaching middle school music in Manhattan. Click here to email him.
Bridgett Shewmake McLean (BM in music therapy, ’98): Bridgett was recently engaged to Arthur McLean, editor of the Thomasville Times. She is currently working in economic development, teaching private music lessons in the evenings, and helping Arthur to run a photography business.
Jami Rainey (B.S. Ed. 1998): Jami was married on Dec. 21, 2002 to Stephanie Silas of Guin, AL. He is currently the band director for the Winfield City School System in Winfield, AL.
1999
Elaine Anderson (DMA in cello performance,’99): Elaine is an associate professor at Mount Union College in Alliance, OH, where she teaches, conducts and enjoys subbing in area orchestras.
Heather (Martin) Armstrong (BA 99): Heather married Auburn alum Ashley Wayne Armstrong on April 28, 2001. She currently lives in Huntsville, where she works as a paralegal and plays bassoon in various local churches and events, including the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra on occasion.
Kim Bain (BS ’85, MA ’92, EdS ’99): Kim is the band director at R.F. Bumpus Middle School in Hoover, AL. She wonders, “Does anyone else remember those terrible long red dresses Dr. Welker made us wear for his first wind ensemble?”
Anna (Underwood) Bradbary (BM ’99): Anna lives in Philadelphia, PA, with husband Shane. She serves as the supervisor of the music therapy department at a 240-bed long term care facility.
Carol Britt (DMA ’99): Carol is assistant professor of music at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA, where she was recently named the director of the School of Fine Arts. She continues to teach organ privately and to serve as organist/choir director at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Metairie, LA.
Heather Johnson Brock (BS in music education, ’99): Heather married Jason Brock in July of 1999. They now reside in New Market, AL in the northeast corner of Madison Co. Jason is a design engineer with Adtran of Huntsville, and Heather is a full time mom. They have a 4 year old son, Caleb, and a 14 mo. old daughter, Rebecca.
Chris Hodges (BM in trumpet performance, ’99): After serving as a member of the Allied Forces Band (NATO) in Naples, Italy from 2005-2007, Chris Hodges is currently a member of Navy Band Mid-South located in Millington TN. He and his wife Amanda have 3 girls.
Danielle Hansen Gray (music therapy ’99): Danielle married her husband, Roger, in June, 1999, and moved to Arizona. She currently works in the Phoenix area with children who have various developmental disabilities.
Keava Boswell Jones (BM ’95) & Marlon E. Jones (BS ’99): Keava graduated from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, MI, in May 2001, and Marlon is the minister of music at Union Hill Primitive Baptist Church in Huntsville, AL, where the couple resides. Email them at kkboswell@aol.com or marlonejones@aol.com.
Michael Keeton (BS ’99): Michael is band director at Brookwood Middle School (AL) and assistant band director and director of percussion at Brookwood High School. He is married to Brandy Reece who graduateD from UA in May 2003 with a degree in secondary language arts.
Jonathan Kerr (BA in music administration, ’99): Jonathan was named Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Grammy-award winning Choral Arts Society of Washington. He recently married Kerri Apblett in October 2003 and resides in Alexandria, Virginia. You may contact him via email at jkerr12@yahoo.com.
Michael & Susan Labbe (BA ’99): Michael and Susan are married and currently living in Japan. Michael is a Naval Officer supporting Naval Aviation. Susan is a financial professional in Japan.
David Lackey (BS music education, ’99): David worked in business management in Atlanta, Georgia after graduating. He then taught music in Mobile, Alabama, where he served as Band Director at the Dunbar Magnet School of the Creative and Performing Arts. David currently lives in Jacksonville, Alabama, where he will graduate with his Masters in Educational Administration in the Spring of 2006. He plans to move to Manhattan in the summer of 2006 to teach music in the New York City Public School System. Click here to contact David.
Ginger Youngblood Lynch (BS in music education, ’99): Ginger received an M.ED. from the University of South Alabama in Educational Administration. Ginger and Bruce were married in July 2005. They now reside in Chattanooga, TN where Bruce will complete his Surgical Residency in June 2009. Ginger is the band director at Red Bank Middle School. They welcomed twins to their family on May 18, 2008. Andrew and Averie were born 6 weeks early and spent 20 days in the NICU. They have been home over a month and are doing very well. Please check out our blog where their condition is updated as often as possible.
Sean Noah (BS in instrumental music education, ’99): Sean recently received his MM in Music Education from Boston University. He has taught at Hazel Green High School (AL), Western High School (Baltimore, MD), and is currently the Director of Bands at Bibb County High School (AL). Sean is also Assistant Marching Percussion Instructor for the UAB Marching Blazers. He is married to Laura Martin Noah (BM ’02, MM ’04 Peabody Conservatory) and she is the Principal Timpanist for the Mobile Symphony and an adjunct faculty member for UAB. Sean can be reached by emailing him here.
Shane Porter (BA in composition/arranging, ’99): Shane went on to finish the M.S. in Music Ed. from Troy St. in 2002. He took a D.O.B. gig at a high school in Georgia and then worked at Alabama State Univ. for 2 years as the Trumpet Prof. He recently accepted the job as A.D.O.B. at the Univ. of Tenn. (Chattanooga). He has been fortunate enough to have many marching charts published by Warner Brothers. Additionally, he has been touring quite a bit with The Temptations, O’Jays, the Four Tops & Gerald Levert. Shane may be emailed by clicking here.
Myra (King) Rhoden (BS ’94, MA ’99): Myra is now the band director at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. She is married to Errol Rhoden, Jr., and has one son, Errol Rhoden III.
Katherine McLean Taylor (BM ’96, JD ’99): Katherine works in the legal department at Southern Company in Birmingham. She also plays the piano during Sunday brunch at the Wynfrey Hotel.
Stewart Thorson (BS music education, ’99): Stewart is currently the principal at New Century Technology High School in Huntsville. He is pursuing a doctorate degree in Educational Administration from The University of Alabama.