A music educator since 1962, Dr. Frances Moss has taught band and choir in public schools, grades 1-12 and has taught at Calhoun Community College since 1966. At Calhoun, Dr. Moss has taught voice, piano, music the- ory, conducting and vocal ensembles, served as chairperson of the music department and initiated the Church Music Program. She founded the internationally known Chorale, Madrigal Singers and Alumni Musica. These ensembles were invited to perform nationally and internationally for professional events, took annual concert tours, performed for local, state, regional, Church and school groups, presented an annual Madrigal Dinner and performed for governors and presidents. The Alabama Honor Choir Festival, founded by Dr. Moss, was held at Calhoun Community College for 23 years. The AVA instituted their first auditioned All-State Chorus, imple- mented required sight reading at both district and state choral festivals, gave the first medals to members of the All-State Chorus and established provision of certificates for choirs participating in Stat Competition Festivals. Dr. Moss edited the first AVA Handbook, wrote the Handbook for District Chairmen and the Handbook for
Choral Adjudication. During her tenure as president of AMEA the first state convention was inaugurated bringing together all of the di- visions for an in-service event. AMEA met at the Jefferson Davis Hotel in Montgomery. The event was staffed by music students from Calhoun Community College. The AMEA Handbook was developed, an official “logo” was designed for AMEA and the Ala Breve, the Former Music Educators Division and College Division were established and the Outstanding Music Educator Award was instituted. Dr. Moss also served as interim editor of the Ala Breve. She served on the board of the Southern Division and served on several national com- mittees including a task force to develop goals and objectives for the improvement of music education in the United States. She served on numerous committees of the Alabama Association of College Music Administrators, served as chairperson for music for the Alabama Community College Association and wrote that group’s position paper to the State Board of Education in regard to Revised Standards for Teacher Education in Alabama. Dr. Moss served as General Chairman for the Curriculum Guide Committee for Vocal/Choral/Gen- eral Music for the State Department of Education. Degrees held include a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University, masters and doctorate from the University of Alabama and a doctorate from Covington Theological Seminary. Professional memberships include Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Delta Pi, Delta Omicron and MENC. Dr. Moss has been frequently honored and received many awards in recog- nition of her accomplishments as a music educator. Awards from Calhoun Community College include Outstanding Faculty Member Award, External Service to the Community Award and the Carlton Kelley Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Jack Platt endowed a music scholarship and Austinville United Methodist Church annually presents a music scholarship in her honor. AVA presented The Outstand- ing Service Award at the conclusion of her terms as president. Dr. Moss was awarded the inaugural Frances P. Moss Outstanding Choral Director Award by AVA. AMEA presented two Awards for Outstanding Service and has named her as an Outstanding Music Educator. Huntsville Choral Directors Association has presented her an Outstanding Service to Choral Music in Alabama Award. Dr. Moss re- ceived the national NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Texas in Austin. She received several awards and recognitions from Governor George Wallace for her work with the Alabama Honor Choir and her music achievements. Dr. Moss is a com- poser, author, pianist, conductor, clinician, piano/vocal/choral adjudicator and speaker. She has served as adjudicator for Delta Omicron International Triennial Composition Competition and for Alabama Federation of Music Clubs Chamber Music Composition Competi- tion. In December, 1999, Dr. Moss retired from full-time teaching to serve as Minister of Music and Laity at Austinville United Methodist Church, Decatur, Alabama. She continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member at Calhoun Community College.
Eleanor Nation received the B.S. and M.A. degrees in music from
Middle Tennessee State and did summer studies at Bowling Green University (Ohio) and the University of Michigan. She retired after 22 years as choral director at Johnson High School in Huntsville, AL. She had pre- viously taught at Davis Hills Jr. High School and was a part-time instructor at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. Ms. Nations’s choirs distinguished themselves by receiving superior ratings at district, state, re- gional, and national levels. Under her direction, Johnson Chorale earned nine regional and national Grand Cham- pionships. She has often been acknowledged for her expertise in the interpretation and performance of Renaissance and Romantic period music. Mrs. Nation has served Alabama Vocal Association as district chair- man, secretary, president-elect, and president. While president, she wrote several articles about the life of a choral director that were re-printed in other state music journals. Ms. Nation has also served as Alabama pres- ident of American Choral Directors Association and in several capacities in Huntsville Choral Directors Association. While at Johnson High School, Ms. Nations’s choirs performed on numerous occasions for the Alabama Vocal Association workshops and Alabama Music Educators conventions. In addition, her choirs performed at three regional division conventions of American Choral Directors Associ- ation. Ms. Nation has conducted clinics on choral literature and guest conducted Honor Choirs in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. She is a frequent adjudicator throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas. Two of Ms. Nation’s proudest and most hum- bling moments were being invited to conduct the Huntsville All-City Chorus SATB Choir and the Alabama All-State Men’s Chorus.
54 ALA BREVE
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