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.