Lacey Powell is retired Professor of Music at the University of South Alabama and Executive Director for the Alabama Music Educators Association. He served as president of Alabama Music Educators Association for two terms, Alabama Bandmasters Association, and the Rho chapter (Alabama) of the Phi Beta Mu, national hon- orary bandmasters fraternity. In addition, he was state chairman of the College Band Directors Association and the American School Band Directors Association. He also served as a member of the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education Board and was recently named Director Emeritus. Powell has been honored with induction in the Al- abama Bandmasters Hall of Fame (1995); Distinguished Alumnus of the Year (1993), Outstanding Music Edu- cator (1992), Troy University; AMEA Outstanding Music Educator (1993); and Outstanding Educator of America (1971). Dr. Powell, a former chairman of the editorial board of ala breve, official publication of the Alabama Music Educators Association, has published articles in the ala breve, The Instrumentalist, Music Educators Jour- nal, and School Musician-Director. Professor Powell received his bachelor’s degree from Troy State University, master’s from VanderCook College of Music, and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama, with additional study at Northwestern Uni- versity. As an active clinician, Dr. Powell has conducted all-state and regional honor bands in numerous states and has appeared as ad- judicator, consultant, clinician and speaker. He was a member of the 43rd Division Army Band during the Korean Conflict, the Mobile Symphony for seven seasons and a charter member of the Mobile Symphonic Pops Band. He served on the board of directors for the Sym- phony Concerts of Mobile. During his career at Georgiana High School, Andalusia High School and Davidson High School, his bands at state contest were awarded only superior ratings. He was appointed the first director of bands at the University of South Alabama in 1965. Prior to joining the University faculty, he was supervisor of music for the Mobile County Public School. As part of the bicenten- nial celebration, Dr. Powell was director of the “Marching 200,” the official Alabama bicentennial marching band, which performed on three national telecasts. Memberships include Music Educators National Conference, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, Alabama Alliance for Arts Education, Phi Beta Mu and Phi Mu Alpha.


Dr. James Simpson, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, received his Doctor of Arts and Master of Music De- grees from the University of Mississippi and his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. Earlier in his teaching career, Simpson served as Band Director in Union, Mississippi and Canton, Mississippi. During his tenure, the Canton High School Band received outstanding ratings at the Mis- sissippi State Band Festival and won the first annual Six Flags Over Georgia Concert Competition (AAA Divi- sion) in 1969. While in Mississippi, Simpson performed in the Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Meridian, and Jackson Symphony Orchestras. He was a featured soloist with the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra and the University of Mis- sissippi Concert Band. For two years, he served as Concert Director of the Mississippi Lions All State Band. Since joining the music faculty at UNA in 1973 as Assistant Band Director and Woodwind Instructor, Simpson has performed as featured soloist with the UNA Concert and Jazz Bands, the UNA Invitational Honor Band, and several regional high school bands. He is a charter member of the Shoals Area “Big Band” and has played lead


alto saxophone and clarinet with the band for twenty-eight years. Under his leadership, the University Of North Alabama Department of Music became an accredited member of the prestigious National Association of Schools of Music in 1986. From 1994 to 1996, Simp- son served as President of the Alabama Music Educators Association. He has also served as State President of Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, and President of the Association of Alabama College Music Administrators. Simpson was listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers (2004), Outstanding Young Men of America (1977), International Who’s Who in Music and Musician’s Directory (1975) and Outstanding Educators of America (1975). He received the Shoals Area Band Director’s Associa- tion Service Award (2003) and a UNA Education Leadership Award (2000). Dr. Simpson is a member of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Beta Mu (International Bandmasters Fraternity), Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sin- fonia. Simpson retired in August of 2007 after thirty-four years of service to the University of North Alabama. He served as Chair of the Department of Music for the past thirty-three years. Recently, he was honored in being selected as clarinet soloist to perform as part of the Distinguished Events Series at the University of North Alabama in January 2008.


Dr. Thomas R. Smith,


Professor Emeritus of Music at Auburn University, retired as Chair of the Department of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Auburn University in 2006. After receiving the Bachelor of Music from Samford Uni- versity, the Master of Arts in Music Theory from the University of Iowa, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado; Dr. Smith came to Auburn University in 1972, where he taught choral music-related courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Smith also founded and conducted the Auburn University Singers and conducted the Concert Choir. He conducted two concerts in Carnegie Hall in New York City and has conducted eight European concert tours with the Auburn University Concert Choir and University Singers. Under his direction, the Auburn University Singers


FEBRUAR Y 2008 55


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