Ken Williams is known for the outstanding band programs he developed at Meek High School and Haleyville High School. He graduated from Winston County High School in 1965. Mr. Williams attended Florence State University (now the University of North Alabama) from 1965-67 and the University of North Alabama from 1971-1973, where he earned his BS in Music Education. Between the years 1967-1971, he served in the United States Marine Corps, including 13-months of service in Vietnam.
Tag: Class of 2021
Yale H. Ellis – 2021
Feb 14 2021
Yale Ellis was band director at Woodlawn High School (Birmingham) from 1927-1938, Sydney Lanier High School (Montgomery) from 1938-1955, and assistant band director at the University of Alabama from 1955-1967. Under his direction, Woodlawn became the first high school band in Alabama to perform half-time shows at football games. Mr. Ellis was one of the originators of the Ala Breve magazine, and continued to contribute articles for the magazine throughout his career. He was one of the pioneers of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, and later served as its President.
Mr. Ellis was, for many years, director of the summer music camp at the University of Alabama, and taught music camps at Auburn University and in South Carolina. He also taught instrument repair on public television and in the classroom.
Ken Berg – 2021
Feb 14 2021
Ken Berg was born in 1955 and is a native of the Virginia/North Carolina region. In 1977, he graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a BME in 1977. For 28 years, Ken was the Director of Choirs and Fine Arts Chairman at John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham. He retired in 2005 to become the Music Minister and Resident Composer at Mountain Brook Baptist Church In 2011, Ken retired from church work to become the first full-time Music Director and Resident Composer for the Birmingham Boys Choir, having been part-time with them since 1978.
