Dianne Johnson is the Director of the Department of Arts Education for the Jefferson County School System where she is responsible for overseeing the choral and elementary music, band, visual arts, theatre and debate programs of 52 schools. From 1996 – 2006 she served as the elementary and choral music supervisor and from 2000-2005 also served as the band supervisor overseeing the instrumental programs of 13 high schools and 11 middle schools. She has taught at all levels including elementary, middle, high school and college. She became a member of MENC, the National Association for Music Education, as a college student and has remained ac- tive at both the national and state level since that time. Dianne is a Southern Division MENC Past President and served as a member of the Benchmarks Committee for Content Standard Five. Other services to MENC in- clude: Clinician at the 1994 National Conference, MENC National Certified Music Educator, 1991, participa- tion in the Symposium for National Standards in the Arts and participation in the National Assembly and planning conferences of the Southern Division. She has also served as President of the Alabama Music Educators Asso- ciation, president of the Elementary/General Division, and chair of the Society for General Music. Her articles have appeared in pro- fessional publications such as; Ala Breve, Collegiate Exchange, and Teaching Music. She has been honored as guest conductor and keynote speaker for numerous local, state, and national conferences. In 1989-90, the Alabama Music Educators honored her with its Out- standing Music Educator of the Year Award. Dianne holds Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Montevallo and a master’s level Orff Certificate from the University of Memphis.
Floyd C. McClure was born August 28, 1914 in Oakley, Illinois. He graduated from Decatur High School in Decatur, Illinois in 1933. He received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Murray State College, Murray, Kentucky in 1937 and attended the University of Alabama from 1938 to 1941. He was band director at Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Alabama from 1937 until 1940; Coffee High School in Florence, Al- abama from 1940 until 1972 where he taught band, glee club, biology, American government and economics. In 1972 he organized the new Weeden Junior High School Band and was their director until his retirement in 1976. During Mr. McClure’s tenure at Coffee High School the band was consistently awarded Superior and Ex- cellent ratings at State Competition. They performed frequently in Mardi Gras parades in Mobile and New Or- leans; performed at the Lion’s International Convention in Miami, Florida and the Orange Bowl Parade on two occasions. He was a charter member of the Alabama Bandmasters Association in 1939 and was among those who were responsible for organizing the first All-State Bands (there were two bands then). He later served as
Vice-President and then as President from 1947. He pushed through legislation to authorize an ABA State Band Contest and organized the first one in 1947. It was held at the University of Alabama with 17 bands participating. He also organized the first All-State Band and Choral Festival held at the University of Alabama in 1947. He was a charter member, President and Vice-President of the Alabama Music Educators Association. He is a past member of AEA, NEA, MENC, AMEA, and Phi Beta Mu and was a charter member of Gamma Delta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha. Mac, as he was known to his friends, played with the Huntsville Symphony, the Florence Civic Orchestra and the Florence Big Band. He had a large number of students who became band directors. Mr. McClure was Choir Direc- tor at the First Methodist Church in Florence and for 20 years was Choir Director at Trinity Episcopal Church. He organized and directed the Tri-Cities Oratorio Association which presented “Messiah”, Brahms’ “Requiem” and “Elijah”. He was President of the Florence Teachers Association and was Treasurer for 10 years. Mr. McClure was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1984. He died on December 3, 2005 leaving two daughters, Marilyn Camp of San Antonio, Texas and Jackie Williams of Prattville, Alabama; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Dr. John M. Long
is Dean of the School of Fine Arts, Director of Bands and Distinguished Professor of Music Emeritus at Troy University. He is Past President of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and is active as a guest conductor, speaker, clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico. Dr. Long has received many National and State Awards, including election to the NBA Hall of Fame of Distin- guished Conductors, the AWAPA Award from the NBA, the Distinguished Service to Music Medal from Kappa Kappa Psi, the Gold Medal from the Sousa Foundation, the Governor’s Award from the Alabama Council of the Arts, the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award from the AMEA, the Barbara Odom Award from the AMEA, the Al Wright Award from the WBDNA and was elected to the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame by the Phi Beta Mu. Dr. Long has served 24 years on the Alabama Historic Commission, Past President of the Ro- tary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Troy University has two buildings named for him and in 1998 the Board of Trustees renamed the school of music the John M. Long School of Music in his honor.
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