AMEA 2010 Clinicians and Performers


Erin Colwitz received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1998. She later completed the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in Choral music. Dr. Colwitz studied conducting with William Dehning, David Wilson, Magen Solomon, and Claire McCoy. At USC, she was awarded a full teaching assistantship as conductor of the Thornton Oriana Choir, the University’s only women’s chorus, a post she held from 2003-2006. At USC, she also sang with William Dehning and the award-winning Thornton Chamber Choir touring France and Belgium in 2003 and East Asia in 2006. As a professional singer, Dr. Colwitz was contracted to sing with the Dale Warland Singers in 1999. As part of this extraordinary ensemble, she performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra under the direction of Robert Shaw, Edo de Waart, and Hugh Wolff. The DWS were nominated for a Grammy for their recording of Dominick Argento pieces; Dr. Colwitz’s doctoral treatise is a critical analysis of Argento’s, A Toccata of Galuppi’s, a twelve-tone work found on that recording. Dr. Colwitz is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She conducts the Chamber Choir and


Concert Choir, teaches private voice lessons, and choral education methods classes. Dr. Colwitz is also the newly appointed conductor and artistic director of the Huntsville Master Chorale, the oldest chamber chorale in Huntsville. She serves frequently as contest adjudicator and choral clinician throughout Alabama. Dr. Colwitz is a member of MENC, the Alabama Vocal Association, the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), and Pi Kappa Lambda. Dr. Colwitz lives in Jones Valley with her husband, William Dehning, accomplished conductor, Emeritus Professor, and published author, and their very silly golden retriever, Sam.


The Florence City Schools String Orchestra


is in its 10th year. Begun in 1999 under the direction of Mr. Sergio Espinosa, it was a “pull-out” program. Students were pulled out from other classes a few days a week to explore the world of stringed-instruments. It was a joint venture with the University of North Alabama. In the fall of 2004, Mr. Daniel Jamieson became the director as a part time teacher exclusively with FCS. Since 2004, some major changes have taken place in the structure of the program. The biggest, and most beneficial, is the addition of string orchestra as a regular, daily class for 9th graders beginning in the fall of 2004, 7th and 8th graders in the fall of 2005, and then for all students 6th grade and up beginning in the fall of 2006. Currently, there are about 100 students involved in the orchestra, divided into the 3 groups. In recent years, the orchestra has had the privilege of hosting some world-class professional artist residencies, including guitar/cello duo “Montana Skies” and high-energy fiddle group “Barrage”. The FCS Orchestra program has consistently produced many Alabama All-State Orchestra participants. In January of 2008, Mr. Jamieson and the FCS Orchestra were recipients of the Melody Award from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.


Terry Ownby is in his nineteenth year of teaching instrumental music in the Muscle Shoals School system. He holds both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of North Alabama. Mr. Ownby is active as an adjudicator, clinician, as a marching band drill designer throughout the Southeast, and served as the camp coordinator for the W.C. Jazz Music Camp from 1999-2007. He was recently a clinician at the 2005 Alabama Music Educators conference. Terry plays trumpet professionally and has performed with Alabama, Percy Sledge, The Speer Family, William Lee G olden, The Oak Ridge Boys and the world renowned Muscle Shoals Horn Section. He is the lead trumpet player for the Shoals Area Big Band, is a founding member and leader of the Shoals Dixieland Band, and has also appeared with the Legends of Jazz Big Band for the W.C. Handy Music Festival in 2003 and 2004, the Millennium Big Band for the Huntsville Symphony Association, and on the General Jackson Showboat. Mr. Ownby currently serves as the Recording Secretary for the Alabama Bandmasters Association and is the past Chairman of District III. He is a five time member of Who’s Who Among Americas Teachers, listed in Who’s Who in America for 2005, and was nominated for the 2004


Disney Hand Teacher Awards for creativity in teaching. He is the recipient of the National Band Associations “Citation of Excellence” for his contribution to bands and band music. Mr. Ownby is active as a guest clinician in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. He holds memberships in MENC, AMEA, Kappa Kappa Psi, ABA, and NBA. Terry and his wife, Laura, have two children; fifteen - year-old Emily Lee and twelve-year old Elizabeth Lauren.


6 October 2009


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