AMEA 2016 Clinicians


Soon Hee Newbold was born in Seoul, Korea and adopted as an infant by the Newbold family. She spent her childhood, along with two sisters, in Frederick, Maryland. Soon Hee began playing piano at age five and violin at age seven. As a soloist and in professional orchestras throughout the world, Ms. Newbold has appeared in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Disney World, Aspen, and Tanglewood and in countries like Scotland, England, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Ms. Newbold received her Bachelor of Music degree from James Madison University where she concentrated on film scoring, orchestration, and audio production. As an actress, Soon Hee expanded her experiences to film and television. She got her first break in the film, “The Waterboy,” starring Adam Sandler, and first television role in the family comedy, “Camp Tanglefoot.”


Sadly, Ms. Newbold’s mother was diagnosed with


Huntington's disease, a terminal, devastating genetic neurological illness for which there is little treatment and no cure. Soon Hee wrote the popular song “Endless Dreams,” and dedicated it to those affected by Huntington’s to spread awareness and hope. Published through the FJH Music Company, Soon Hee’s compositions can be heard around the world in film, orchestras, and other performing groups. Outside of work, Ms. Newbold enjoys martial arts and weapons training and has black belts in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Kigumdo.


Caroline Nordlund is a lecturer at Samford University where she teaches string methods, instrumental pedagogy, and plays in the Samford University Faculty String Quartet. She is also Coordinator of Strings of the Samford University Music Academy. Caroline teaches violin at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and serves as the President for the Alabama chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Caroline earned a Master of Music in violin performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University as a student of Gerardo Ribeiro. At Northwestern, she was awarded the Richard and Helen Thomas Fellowship while a graduate assistant to Stacia Spencer and Dr. James Kjelland. Caroline is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, American String Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association. Originally from South Carolina, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance.


Bruce Pearson grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota. He has taught at the elementary, junior high, high school and college levels for over 40 years. In December of 1998, Dr. Pearson was awarded the prestigious Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to music education. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni award at St. Cloud State University. Also in 2007, he was recognized as the first Patron for the Maryborough Conference in Queensland, Australia. Dr. Pearson continues to serve as a guest lecturer, clinician, and conductor in addition to his work as a composer, arranger, and author.


Scott L. Phillips is Associate Professor of Music Technology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He frequently makes scholarly presentations, leads panels and reading academic papers at top music, education, and technology conferences. His book Beyond Sound: The College and Career Guide in Music Technology was released in 2013 and has sold around the world. He is a former middle school and high school music teacher, and is often called upon by major music technology companies to serve as a trainer, clinician, and consultant in schools, churches, theaters, and recording studios.


David Pryor has been teaching for 26 years. He is a graduate of Loyola University. He has taught in Louisiana, Missouri and Alabama. He is Director of Instrumental Music/ Music Department Chairman at Faith Academy in Mobile. He is on Staff of Mobile Singing Children. He is a member of ABA, AMEA, NAfMe, NBA, AISBA and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He has served as ABA District 7 Chairman and is presently District 7 Vice-Chairman. He was awarded the “Citation of Honor” in 2005 and in 2015 from the NBA and awarded Faith Academy “Teacher of the Year” in 1998. He was honored by the “Fiesta-val” Invitational Music Festival in Atlanta, GA with the “Award of Distinction” in April 2013.


Phillip Riggs is currently a music instructor at the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham, NC. Phillip is a recipient of the Exceptional Contribution in Outreach Award presented each year by the University Of North Carolina Board Of Governors for his work with music education programs throughout North Carolina. Prior to joining the NCSSM faculty, he was the first band director and fine arts chair at Ronald Reagan High School in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System. Before assuming that position, Mr. Riggs taught in Davidson County for sixteen years. Twelve of those years were with the Ledford Bands. During his tenure, the Ledford Middle and High School Bands and High School Choirs under his direction received numerous Superior Ratings at the state concert festival (MPA). He received his undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University and his master’s degree from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Mr. Riggs is a Past President of the North Carolina Band Directors Association.


Roger Sams retired from the music classroom in 2013 after 31 years of teaching music in public and private schools. He has served as adjunct faculty, teaching methods courses and supervising student teachers at Cleveland State University and has been on the faculty in teacher education programs at the University of St. Thomas, Cleveland State University, Akron University, the University of Montana, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and other venues throughout the US.


Roger is a regular presenter at state, regional, and national


conferences, has served on the AOSA National Board of Trustees, and has worked with teachers in Canada, China, Indonesia and India.


(www.MusicIsElementary.com). Trained in Gestalt therapy, Roger is interested in the power of choice in the artistic process, teaching, and life.


30 He is the co-author of “Purposeful Pathways: Possibilities for the Elementary Music Classroom” with Beth Ann Hepburn.


He has published works for children’s choirs in the “Crooked River Choral Project” series and a collection of rounds and partner songs entitled, “A Round My Heart.”


October/November 2015 He currently serves as Director of Publications and Music Education Consultant at Music is Elementary


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