AMEA 2011 Clinicians and Performers


In 1978Chris Byars played snare drumin TheMcDonald’sAll-AmericanHigh School Band.He also played percussion with the Alabama Symphony from 1983-1988. He has been playing drums for various musical groups for the last thirty years.He sang basswith the a cappella doo -wop group “TheDiptones” for 20 years. He is presently amember of a duo called “e. e. poe”which focuses onwriting and recording original pop/rock music. He earned a Bachelor ofMusic Education degree from the University ofMontevallo and aMaster of Music Education from the University of Louisville.As an educator he has had a diverse career so far, having taught band, choir and elementary music. He is currently the music teacher at Paine Intermediate School where he formed the “Recorder KarateAll-Stars” who performed at theAMEAconference in 2009. His wife Heather teaches private piano lessons in Vestavia Hills,AL. They have a wonderful daughterAnabel who is an enthusiastic singer and talented piano student.


In only its sixth year of existence, the FlorenceHigh School Band has established a proud tradition of excellence. The band is composed of a largemarching band, two concert bands, and a jazz band. The bands have consistently received the rating of “Superior” atmarching competitions, at theAlabama BandmastersAssociation District and State Concert Band Assessments, and received the rating of “Superior with Distinction” at the first Alabama Band MastersAssociationMusic PerformanceAssessment. In addition, the Florence High School Band has several students who are selected for the Alabama All-State Band, and other university honor bands each year, and many students who receive the rating of “Superior” at the Alabama Bandmasters Association Solo and Ensemble Festival each year. The band is composed of 140 students in grades 9-12, and attracts students from all areas of the high school population. In addition to the honor of being invited to perform at theAlabamaMusic EducatorsAssociation Inservice Conference, the band has also performed in the LondonNewYears Day Parade in London, England, and, atWalt DisneyWorld in Orlando, Florida.


Cellist andMontgomery native ClayMcKinney completed his formal musical training at the University of Alabama after rising up through the strings programs of theMontgomery School System.At 15Mr.McKinney joined theMontgomery Symphony and has since performed in symphonies and chamber ensembles across the state. Hismusical pursuits extend into rock and popularmusic as the cellist for the BlueGalaxy String Project, an electric string band consisting of StringQuartet Bass andDrums.Mr.McKinney has also been featured on The Cathedral Church of theAdvent 5 o’clock band albums “Lift HimUp” and “In the Hands of theMaker”. Mr.McKinney is in his 4th year as the strings teacher for Booker TWashingtonArtsMagnet High School in Montgomery.


JedR. Smart is a graduate of theUniversity ofAlabama, receiving the Bachelor of Science (Music Education - Instrumental) degree in 2001.Mr. Smart completed hisMaster of Science Degree inMusic Education in 2005 at Troy University in Troy,Alabama and is currentlyABDon hisDoctor ofMusicalArtsDegree at BostonUniversity.Mr. Smart is theAssociateDirector of Bands at Smiths Station High School where he is Assistant Conductor of the Symphonic Band, Drill Designer for the “Panther Spirit” Marching Band, Colorguard Instructor, and Beginning Brass Teacher. Mr. Smart is currently the State Chairman for the Tri-M Music Honor Society, District Chairman for theAlabama BandmastersAssociation – District VI, and a past Resident conductor of theAmerican Legion Boy's State. Other past awards includeWho'sWhoAmongAmerican Teachers in 2002 and 2005, the National Honor Roll in 2005, and the National BandAssociation Citation of Excellence in 2006.Mr. Smart enjoys Crimson Tide and Green Bay Packers Football, Jimmy Buffett concerts, collecting vinyls, fine dining and cooking, spending timewith friends and family and vacationing abroad. He currently resides in Smiths Station,Alabama with his beautiful wife,Abby.


30 October 2010


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