Curtis Hollinger, (B.S., M.M.Ed.), is a graduate of Alabama State University; Montgomery, Alabama and Vander Cook College of Music, Chicago, Illinois. He has served in the following capacities: Band Director (forty (40) years) in the public school systems of Georgia and Alabama; past director of the George Washington Carver High School Bands, Montgomery, Alabama; past director of The Montgomery Public Schools All-City Bands; first instrumental music director for The Alabama Governor’s School of the Arts; director for three different high school bands from Montgomery, (with Superior ratings), at District Band Festivals. He currently serves as principal clarinet for the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra – a position held since 1984. Additional experiences include participation in the Festival Clarinet Choirs of the International Clarinet Association Annual Festivals, plays saxophone in the Montgomery Recreators (jazz band) and clarinetist in the Montgomery Woodwind Quintet. Hollinger’s professional development includes attendance at the Mid-West Band and Woodwind Quintet. Orchestra Clinics, and attendance at the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) conferences. Over the years, he has served as judge for clarinets at Alabama All-State Music Festivals, adjudicator at District Band Festivals, State Band Festivals, Marching Band Festivals, Solo Ensemble Festivals, guest conductor, and Clarinet Clinician at various schools and colleges. In March 2005, he served as music director for a local production of the Broadway musical “Purlie”, performed at the Davis Theatre; Montgomery, Alabama. Hollinger’s most recent professional work includes a solo performance of Concertino for Clarinet by C.M. von Weber with the Minor High School Band, Carlton Wright, Band Director – at the 2008 Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) Conference, held at the University of Alabama. Hollinger has been band director of Loveless Academic Magnet Program Symphonic Band in Montgomery, Alabama; adjunct clarinet instructor at Troy University in Troy, Alabama, adjunct clarinet instructor at Faulkner University, Montgomery, Alabama; clarinetist in the orchestra for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s productions of Man of La Mancha, Peter Pan, A Christmas Carol, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Musical and many others. Currently, Hollinger is adjunct professor of Studio Woodwinds at Huntington College Department of Music, Montgomery, Alabama.

Billy “Rip” Reagan was director of the Gadsden State Show Band for 28 years. He was also the principal music arranger for the group that performed for college functions, community events and recruiting shows. His many years as a music educator made him a legend throughout the South, and his influence is known internationally. Many of his students have become music educators or perform professionally. Reagan previously served as band director for Crossville High School, Corinth High School in Mississippi, Albertville High School and Emma Sansom High School. He is widely known for his 25-year tenure at Emma Sansom, where he also served as principal for five years. His accomplishments there include 24 years of superior concert ratings and more than 200 superior ratings at marching competitions. Under Reagan’s direction, Sansom’s band won the National Veterans of Foreign War Championship three times, 1957 through 1959, competing in Miami, New York and Los Angeles. These awards were instrumental in Gadsden’s recognition as the City of Champions. Sansom’s band also won the Greatest Band in Dixie Award in a prestigious competition held in New Orleans in 1963, 1965 and 1967. The band also performed for many televised professional and semi-professional football games, including the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Birmingham Stallions. Reagan shared his musical talent internationally by conducting the Dixie American Youth Band from 1969 to 1970. This goodwill musical tour took students from seven Southern states to Europe to entertain audiences at schools and public events. He was known for his music judging abilities in Europe as well as throughout the United States.

Joe Riemer a native of New Orleans, La., received his bachelor and Masters degrees in music education at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La. He began his teaching career in 1962 and has served as band director at Davidson High School and Shaw High School in Mobile, Al. Subsequently he has served as band director at Bay Minette Middle School, Baldwin County High School and Faulkner State Community College, all in the Mobile Area. He has served on the board of the Mobile Jazz Festival and as conductor of its High School All-star Jazz Band with numerous performances on the Mobile Jazz Festival concert programs. He also holds membership in MENC, the Alabama Bandmasters Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and the music fraternities Phi Mu Alpha and Phi Beta Mu, and has served as adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor throughout the Southeast. Joe is one of the founders of the Mobile Symphonic Pops and served as one of its co-directors for 10 years. He is also the founder of the Baldwin Pops, a community band in the Baldwin County, and has served as its music director since its inception in 1997. He was named in 2001 by the Mobile Bay Monthly as one of the most influential “Masters of the Arts” for Mobile and Baldwin County and in 2007 was received the Fairhope First “Quality of Life” award for his contribution to the enhancement the quality of life in the Fairhope area. Joe and his wife Mary Lou are both retired educators and reside in Fairhope, AL. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Roland Lister holds a B.S. degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University and a Masters degree in School Administration from the University of Alabama. He studied viola and taught instrumental music in the Gadsden City School System for thirty years, spending twenty years as a string orchestra director. In 1978, Lister organized and conducted the Gadsden City School System’s first full symphony orchestra. He continued as an orchestra conductor until he retired in 1998 to work with the Etowah Youth Orchestra. In 2000, he served as the conductor of the Premiere String Orchestra at the Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival. In 2003 he was chosen as conductor of the All-West Tennessee String Orchestra in Memphis. Lister conducted performances of the Etowah Youth Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 2002 and again in 2007. He also conducted the orchestra at the Royal Elizabethan Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, England. His string orchestra has presented a concert for the Alabama Music Educators Conference and he has twice served as a clinician for the conference. In 2007 Lister was selected as Teacher of the Year by the Alabama chapter of ASTA is the Associate Conductor of the Etowah Youth Orchestras. In this capacity he serves as the Principal Conductor of the June Moore Bugg Prelude Strings and the Etowah String Philharmonic, and Director of the EYO’s Summer Strings Camp. He also serves as an instructor for the EYO’s Beginning and Intermediate Strings Program in the Etowah County and Attalla City School Systems., and was inducted into the Alabama Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2009.

Pat Morrow holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Auburn University and a master’s degree in school administration from the University of Alabama. He started his career in Gadsden in 1969. After serving a serving as band director at Gadsden’s Emma Sansom High School, he spent two decades as director at Homewood High School. During his tenure, the band grew from approximately 35 students to 170. During this time, Homewood became the first high school band from Alabama to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, held in New York City, and the first to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The band also performed in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. Morrow worked in the Hoover school system from 1996 until his retirement in 2007, including five years as Hoover High band director and then six years as communications and public relations coordinator at the central office. As band director at Hoover High, travels included trips to New York City for the Macy’s parade, The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Dr. David L. Walters was a native of Youngstown, Ohio. After graduating from Struthers High School, Dr. Walters served six years in the Navy, where he graduated from the United States Navy School of Music. He continued his music education by working on and receiving the B.S. Degree in Music from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He continued his education with graduate work in Musicology at Washington University in St. Louis. Further study took him to Florida State University where he received the Master of Music Degree in Music Theory in 1960. Dr. Walters’ teaching career began as Band Director at Fairfield High School in Hamilton, Ohio. From there, he moved to New Bern, North Carolina, where he served as Supervisor of Music for the New Bern school system and as Band Director for New Bern High School. Dr. Walters’ bands at New Bern consistently earned superior ratings during his nine-year tenure there. In 1961, Dr. Walters came to Jacksonville State University and served as Director of Bands from 1961 to 1991. He continued to develop The Marching Southerners by personally arranging the music which gave the Southerners their unique sound and trademark. He also arranged many fine dance line tunes specifically for the JSU Marching Ballerinas. By featuring this group, the Ballerinas became one of the finest dance line groups in the country. With his ability to arrange and produce such a unique sound for the field along with his clever drill writing, strong traditions emerged from within the group. Section leaders were chosen from each section of the band and this proved to be an excellent educational tool. The band ultimately became one of the finest college bands in the United States. During his tenure as Director of Bands, The Southerners performed at hundreds of band competitions as the exhibition band. They performed as the halftime entertainment for the Atlanta Falcons for many years. Dr. Walters wrote the “theme” music for the All-American Bowl which was played in Tampa, Florida, where the Southerners performed many times. The Southerners represented Alabama in the Inaugural Parade for President Lyndon Johnson in the early 60s. In 1976, the Southerners were selected to represent Alabama in the Bi-Centennial parade in Philadelphia. Dr. Walters’ Symphonic Bands also toured the Southeast and performed for many high schools and recruited some of the finest performers. His band program produced many fine directors and educators. Dr. Walters always spoke very fondly of his nearly 5,000 band alumni whom he says were the finest people he ever had the privilege to teach. Dr. Walters was named Emeritus Director of Bands at Jacksonville State University.

Dr. Gerald Welker was the founding conductor of the Wind Ensemble at The University of Alabama. Born May 3, 1941 in Champaign, Ill., Dr. Welker received the bachelor of music degree in music education, the master of music degree in music literature, and the doctor of musical arts degree in performance from the Eastman School of Music. He earned the performer’s certificate in saxophone and served as principal saxophonist of the Eastman Wind Ensemble for four years. A former conducting student of Gunter Theuring in Vienna, Roger Wagner, and Frederick Fennell, he was the top-rated American conductor at the 1982 National Orchestral Conducting Competition. He has served previously on the conducting faculties of Union University, Appalachian State University, the University of Central Florida, and Murray State University. An active clinician, Dr. Welker conducted all-state and regional bands in numerous states as well as having given extensive appearances as a lecturer, reviewer, and adjudicator. He conducted the world premiere performances of over forty compositions. Gerald gave tirelessly of his time and expertise to many students, colleagues, and fellow music lovers over the years. He was the consummate teacher, and he spread his love of music and high level of knowledge to all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Dr. L. Gene Black has been a life member of NAfME /AMEA since 1960 and has frequently served as a choral festival adjudicator, guest conductor and choral clinician across the country. He has received numerous honors, awards and holds membership in several professional societies. He is respected throughout the country and abroad as a music educator, conductor of the renowned Samford University A Cappella Choir, and currently as conductor of the A Cappella Alumni Choir. Dr. Black is widely recognized for his work in the area of a cappella choral music and has brought worldwide recognition to Alabama through the lasting and positive impressions his choirs have made across Europe and Asia in 27 international tours. Dr. Black holds the Bachelor’s Degree in music education from Samford University, and the Master of Arts, Educational Specialist and the Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. His career began as a choral teacher in secondary education until his return to Samford in 1965 as associate conductor of the A Cappella Choir. He was conductor of the choir 1967-1999. During his 35 year teaching tenure at Samford he was Professor of Music/Music Education, Director of Choral Activities, Associate Dean of the School of Music and Dean of the School of Music.

Colonel Carleton Butler was born February 2, 1907 in Edinberg, Ohio and died May 27, 1993 in Ashville, North Carolina. He attended high school in Warren, Ohio graduating in 1924. He attended Dana’s Musical Institute from 1924-28; Kent State University from 1928-32; and the University of Alabama in 1935. He was band director in the Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama in 1929-30; Ramsay High School, Birmingham, Alabama 1930-34; and the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama from 1935 until his retirement in 1969. He was also band director at Tuscaloosa High School from 1935 until 1946. During his 34 years as band director at the University of Alabama, Colonel Butler was a driving influential force behind the band movement in the State of Alabama. In 1939 he called a meeting of Alabama band directors at the University of Alabama to form the Alabama Bandmasters Association of which he was elected the first President. Colonel Butler was loved by his band members and respected by his peers. He lifted the “Million Dollar Band” to National prominence through his insistence of high, quick stepping, elaborate maneuvers, and accuracy and style of musical performance. He conceived the fabled time, temperature, and score drill that baffled and delighted fans at home and at the many national appearances at the major bowls. Colonel Butler was appointed Honorary Colonel in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, University of Alabama in 1940 and appointed Honorary Colonel in the Great State of Alabama by Governor John Patterson in 1959. In 1968 he was presented a plaque by the University of Alabama Student Body, for 34 years of outstanding service to the University and the “Million Dollar Band” . Also in 1968 he was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for “Outstanding Service to Music Education in the State of Alabama” for serving as president of the Alabama Music Educators Association in 1956 and 1958. In 1969 a resolution was enacted and appointment as Professor Emeritus of Music upon retirement was conferred on Colonel Butler by The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama. Also, a resolution was enacted by the Alabama House of Representatives, the Senate concurring that the legislature expressing appreciation to Colonel Carleton K. Buler for 34 years as director of The University of Alabama Band. He was awarded the “Outstanding Bandmasters Award” by Phi Beta Mu, national bandmasters honorary fraternity in 1969. In 1979 $10,000 was donated by former students and friends for the University of Alabama scholarships in the name of Colonel Butler and in 1980, to honor Colonel Butler, the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama the naming and dedication of the band practice field, “Butler Field”. Colonel Butler was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1976.

Dr. Ed Cleino taught in public schools in Missouri before coming South and teaching at Vanderbilt University 1939 to 1942. He entered the Army Air Force in 1942, and was commissioned in 1943. Dr. Cleino served at several airfields before being assigned to the 20th Air Force on Guam, where the mission was “round trips” to Japan. Following WW II, he and his young family moved to the University of Alabama in 1949, as the College of Education was opening its Music Education program. Dr. Cleino designed and opened Alabama’s first Master’s Program in Music Education in 1951, followed by doctoral programs in 1960. He has been a member of the Music Educators National Conference (later renamed National Association for Music Education) for 70 years, and was President of the Southern Division 1969-1973. He edited Ala Breve for about ten years, and served as AMEA Membership Chairman for many years. With the opening of the state-wide “Educational Television Network,” beginning in 1956, Dr. Cleino taught TV music lessons designed for in-school use. The series, called “Music Time,” was used by 50,000 to 65,000 children each week, with the program continuing for 17 years. Though Dr. Cleino retired in 1978, he continued to serve as a mentor to undergraduate music students at UA. His greatest pride was in the success of his former students in their teaching of music in Alabama and in many other states.

A graduate of the Horner Institute of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Music, William Levi Dawson later studied at the Chicago Musical College with professor Felix Borowski, and then at the American Conservatory of Music where he received his masters degree. Early in his career he served as a trombonist both with the Redpath Chautauqua and the Chicago Civic Symphony Orchestra. His teaching career began in the Kansas City public school system, which was later followed by a tenure with the Tuskegee Institute from 1931–1956. During this period, it was he who appointed a large number of faculty members that later became well known for their work in the field. Additionally, Dawson also developed the choir, the Tuskegee Institute Choir, into an internationally renowned ensemble; they were invited to sing at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall in 1932 for a week of six daily performances. As a composer, Dawson began at a young age, and it was early on in his compositional career that his Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano was performed by the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra. Besides chamber music, he is also known for his contributions to both orchestral and choral literature. His best known works are arrangements and variations on spirituals; his Negro Folk Symphony of 1934 garnered a great deal of attention at its’ world premier, under the direction of Leopold Stokowski with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The symphony was later revised in 1952 with greater African rhythms inspired by the composer’s trip to West Africa. The composition was – the composer conveyed – an attempt to convey the missing elements that were lost when Africans came into bondage outside of their homeland. In creating this work, Dawson was influenced by the nationalistic views of Dvorˇák. Widely performed, his most popular spirituals include Jesus Walked the Lonesome Valley, Talk about a Child That Do Love Jesus and King Jesus Is a-Listening.

Dr. William R. Denison came to Troy University in the fall of 1967.  A native of Michigan, he received Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Michigan and completed the Ph.D at Florida State University in 1969.  Since retiring in June 2005 from administrative duties as Director of the School of Music, he continues to teach piano and organ part time.  From 1971-1998 he was director of the Collegiate Singers and conducted annual winter performances of major choral works for over 25 years.  Dr. Denison also conducted many productions of the opera workshop and musical theatre at Troy University, ranging from grand operas such as Rigoletto and Faust to Broadway standards like Oklahoma and My Fair Lady.  He remains active with Collegiate Singers as conductor emeritus and as organist and director of music at St. Marks Episcopal and First Presbyterian Churches in Troy.  He acts as a liaison between Troy University and Troy Arts Council and has secured a number of grants to assist in the presentation of guest artists and major productions on campus.  He is married to Jane Denison and has two sons, Joey and Rae, both TSU graduates, and five grandchildren.

Gene Gooch was born on November 17, 1932 on the U.S. Corps of Engineers Reservation at Florence, Alabama. He was educated in Florence City Schools and graduated from Coffee High School in 1950. Gene began music study on alto saxophone in 1944 and began the study of bassoon in 1947. He studied bassoon privately with Mr. Pasquale Bria, who was band director in Cullman. Gene also studied alto saxophone and sousaphone under Mr. Floyd C. McClure, the band director at Coffee High School. He attended Murray State College in Kentucky after high school, but due to the outbreak of the Korean War, joined the U.S. Air Force after the first semester. He was a member of the Air University’s 604^th Air Force Band at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery Alabama and the 584^th Air Force Band at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton, Florida. In the Air Force Gene played bassoon in the concert band and saxophone in the dance band, and acted as drum major in the marching band. During these years, he was a member of the Montgomery Symphony and an original member of the Pensacola Symphony. Upon discharge from the Air Force in January of 1955, he enrolled at the University of Alabama. Gene received the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education in August, 1957. He played bassoon in the Million Dollar Band, University Symphony and the University Woodwind Quintet and was drum major of the Million Dollar Band. He also played with the Birmingham Civic Opera orchestra. Gene was a member of The Capstoners Dance Band, playing alto saxophone. In August 1960, he received the Master of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Alabama. In 1957, he became Band Director at Sheffield High School. In 1962 Mr Gooch became Band Director at Colbert County High School. He was appointed Band Director at Appleby Middle School in Florence in 1966, and then Band Director at Coffee High School in 1972. The bands at Coffee High School consistently received Superior ratings at State Band Competitions and at other competitions. Mr. Gooch retired from Coffee High School in 1986 but taught woodwinds at The University of North Alabama as an adjunct faculty member until 2001. He served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama Music Educators Association from 1972 through 1978. In 1979 Mr. Gooch became Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama Bandmasters Association and remained in that position until his retirement from teaching in 1986. In 1991 he was asked to return to service as Executive Secretary of the Alabama Bandmasters Association. Mr. Gooch was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Phi Beta Mu, the International Bandmasters Fraternity. He was a past-president of Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Gooch was the first undergraduate at the University of Alabama invited to become a member of Phi Delta Kappa, national education honorary. Other professional affiliations include Music Educators National Conference, Alabama Music Educators Association, National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He was a member of the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame and the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band Association Hall of Fame. In 1953, Gene married Virginia Reed Gooch. They had two children: Gena Gooch Cape and Michael Gooch.