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man (1987-88) of the University of Alabama Society for the Fine Arts, played trombone in the Mobile Symphony, the Mobile Opera Or- chestra, and the City of Mobile Symphonic/Pops Band, was a mobile Jazz Festival Board member, and was Choir Director at St. Marks and Springhill Avenue United Methodist Churches. In 1983, Thomas was honored as the University of Alabama Music Department’s first Alumni Achievement Award recipient. He retains affiliation with the Music Educators National Conference (50 years), the National Band Association, and the American School Band Directors Association. He continues to serve as a district band festival adjudicator, honor band festival conductor and solo and ensemble judge. Thomas is now retired and resides in Mobile, where he continues to par- ticipate in various church and community music activities.


Johnnie Vinson


is Director of Bands and Professor of Music Emeritus at Auburn University. He received the Bachelor of Sci- ence and Master of Education degrees in Music Education from Auburn, and the Doctor of Arts degree in Music Theory from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Vinson retired from Auburn University in June, 2007, after a 36- year career with the Auburn Bands. Prior to joining the Auburn faculty, he taught in the public schools of Colum- bus, Georgia, and worked as a Graduate Assistant with the bands at the University of Texas and University of Mississippi. At Auburn, he supervised the overall band program, conducted the Symphonic Band, and taught conducting and band arranging. He was also faculty sponsor to Auburn’s Theta Lambda Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. With over 360 published works, Dr. Vinson is a widely recognized arranger/composer of music for band, writing primarily for the Hal Leonard Corporation. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States. Dr. Vinson is active professionally as a member and officer in a number of organizations. He is a Past President of the Alabama Music Educators Association, former National Vice President for Professional Relations for Tau Beta Sigma, and has served as Alabama State Chair of the College Band Directors National Association. He is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Band Association and is a Past President of Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. In addition, he is a member of Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and ASCAP. Dr. Vinson was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 1994, and has twice served as a member of its Board of Directors. He has been presented the Distinguished Service to Music Medal by Kappa Kappa Psi and the Citation of Ex- cellence by the National Band Association. In January, 1998, he was elected to the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame.


G. Truman Welch has served as Vice-President and President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, Pres- ident and Vice-President of the Alabama Music Educators Association, and served one term on the governing board of the National Band Association. He has served as President of the Alabama chapter of Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Welch has taught woodwinds at Auburn and Alabama music camps, and at Auburn University and Huntington College. He has played professionally for years in both symphonies and dance bands and was a member of the board of directors of the Montgomery Symphony for several years. Mr. Welch was presented the Birmingham News Post Herald Award for 25 years of outstanding service to the youth of Alabama in 1967. He also was awarded the order of the “Silver Horn” in 1970 by the First Chair of America for outstanding achievement in the field of school music. The “Silver Horn” is awarded only to those whose accomplishments in the field of music are of the highest national standards. During World War II, Welch was director of the 13th Air Force Show Band. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association, American School Band Directors As- sociation, Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, and the Alabama Music Educators As- sociation. Mr. Welch organized the Elmore County High School Band of Wetumpka and Eclectic, Alabama. He directed this band for 26 years. During this time, the Elmore County Band was a consistent winner at state contests and first place winner of the Virginia Beach Festival. The band was also selected to play at the Midwest National Clinic in Chicago in 1965, the All-South Clinic at Jekyl Is- land, Georgia, in 1969, the Lion’s International in New York in 1959, in Chicago in 1960, and the Southern Division of MENC in Mo- bile in 1969. Mr. Welch and Edd Jones originated and organized the Studio Lab Band movement. He also organized the first annual Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic, which was held at Troy State University in January of 1974. He served as Executive Secretary of this organization. Mr. Welch is presently the flute clinician for Yamaha Musical Instrument Company throughout the South- east, and is in great demand as guest conductor and clinician throughout the country. He served as Woodwind Instructor at Troy State University, and was the Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Coordinator of Instrumental Music. He was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1978. He was elected mayor of Wetumpka in July 1980. Mr. Welch was the originator of the very popular Flute-A-Rama series. At present, Mr. Welch has his own clinician service, woodwind studio, and is Re- tired Director of the 68 piece Montgomery Civic Band. He is in great demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, piccolo, flute, and sax- ophone clinician.


FEBRUAR Y 2008 57


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