Mr. Johnny Lavance Allen Instructor of Speech & Theater B.S., M.A.L.A., Grambling State University 1000 ASU Dr. 232 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone: (601)877-6270 Email: lavance17@hotmail.com

Johnny Lavance Allen is currently an Instructor of Speech and Theatre in the Fine Arts Department. He teaches acting and directs plays each semester. He serves as co-adviser of Interfaith Gospel choir, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and advisor of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. and is the Faculty Senate representative for the Fine Arts Department. Mr. Allen is an accomplished actor, producer, and director. His most recent projects include four films, A Few Simple Truths, The Lady Killers, Pinot Noir (released in 2004), and Revisted (2005). In addition, Mr. Allen was honored by a former student as "Best Teacher" in the eighth edition of Who's who Among America's Teachers. (2004-2005).

Dr. David Blackburn Professor of Music B.M., Westminster CHoir College M.M., Indiana University D.M.A., The University of Iowa Email: natchezfestival@bellsouth.net 1000 ASU Dr. 29 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone:(601)877-6264

Dr. Blackburn is the Director of Choral Activities at Alcorn State University and teaches applied voice, diction and conducting. He is also the Artistic Director of the Natchez Opera Festival. The festival has received the Governor's Award for the Outstanding Arts Organization in Mississippi, is listed as one of the Top Twenty Events in the Southeastern United States, and has nationwide acclaim because of its high degree of excellence. Dr. Blackburn presents vocal clinics and seminars, and serves as a judge in vocal competitions.

Ms. Stacy Roberts-Caruso Assistant Professor of Speech and Theatre B.S., Louisiana State University M.F.A., Tisch School of the Arts - New York University Email: caruso@alcorn.edu 1000 ASU Dr. 29 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone:(601)877-6268

Ms. Roberts-Caruso teaches oral communications and acting, and conducts the speech and theater laboratory. In addition, she offers tutorials in voice and diction, speech correction, and movement and relaxation. She has worked professionally in both New York and Los Angeles and has a number of television and film credits. While in New York she participated in Circle Repertory Theatre where the play Violet, which she co-authored and played the title role, was aired on PBS' Short Story Series. She authored and acted the lead in Arizona Triangle which received numerous Drama-Logue Awards and Honorable Mention for Best New Play at the 1990 Ovation Awards. She is a member of SAG, AFTRA, AEA, and Honors Tisch Alumni.

Ms. Linnie Garner Instructor of Voice B.M., Southern Methodist University M.M., Southern Methodist University Post graduate studies, Julliard School of Music 1000 ASU Dr. 29 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone:(601)877-6267 Email: lgarner@alcorn.edu

Soprano Linnie Garner, teacher of applied voice, has performed for over forty years. She studied twelve years in New York City with famed bel canto exponent Olga Ryss, a Russian teacher trained in the Lamperti tradition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. She spent four summers following her from New York to Aspen where she performed Toch’s Edgar und Emilie, Miss Wordsworth in Britten’s Albert Herring, and Zerbinetta in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos under the baton of James Levine. Her repertoire includes more than twenty-five major roles including Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, Tosca, Il Trovatore and Die Fledermaus. Equally at home with contemporary opera, the soprano has sung for composers Igor Stravinsky, Benjamin Britten, Hans Werner Henze, Darius Milhaud and Thomas Pasatieri, singing the title role in the world premiere of his opera La Divina. Her featured symphony appearances include the Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Austin Symphony and Mississippi Symphony as well the Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Opera companies include Mississippi Opera, Natchez Festival of Music, Gulf Coast Opera, New Jersey Opera, Dallas Opera and the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist Program. In Europe she was the lead soprano with Stadttheater Pforzheim singing nearly one hundred performances of lead roles including Mozart’s Idomeneo and Così fan tutte, Ibert’s Angélique, and Flowtow’s Martha as well her standard repertoire. She has also directed opera including Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and Menotti’s The Telephone. Currently she has students pursuing professional performance careers in opera and musical theater. In 2008, the soprana will continue her foray into "senior" roles, which began in May 2007 with Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady and will include Aunt Eller in Oklahoma in 2008 - both roles with the Natchez Festival of Music.

Mr. Tony Gordon Instructor in Music B.S., Southern University M.M., University of Southern Mississippi 1000 ASU Dr. 29 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone:(601)877-6376 Email: tgordon@alcorn.edu

A native of Natchez, Mississipppi, Mr. Gordon received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he studied with Frank White. As a student at Southern University, Mr Gordon was a consistent winner of the Tourgee Debose National Piano competition. He has also served as guest artist and adjudicator for the competition. After one year of graduate work with Joseph Gurt at Eastern Michigan University, he completed graduate studies in piano performance at the University of Southern Mississippi. His principle professors were Dr. Stanley Waldoff, Dr. Albert Gower, and Dr. Paul Anderson. During both his graduate and undergraduate years he was a winner of several piano concerto performance competitions. Currently, Mr. Gordon teaches applied piano and is the accompanist for the ASU Concert Choir. He is also a private studio teacher and minister of music for several local churches in the Natchez area.

Mr. Samuel S. Griffin Instructor in Music and Director of Bands B.S., Jackson State University M.M. University of Southern Mississippi 1000 ASU Dr. 270 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone:(601)877-6263 Email: griffin@alcorn.edu

Mr. Samuel Griffin is the director of bands and teaches lower brass, applied percussion, instrumental methods and music education. He is very instrumental with arranging music, designing and charting band half-time shows. He is affiliated with the following organizations: College Band Directors National Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, Music Educators National Conference, Mississippi Music Educators Association, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority, Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Band Directors Association, Super Band Directors Association, guest conductor and consultant for band clinics and contests throughout Mississippi and Louisiana.

Dr. Larry Konecky Professor of Music and Director of Computer Assisted Instruction in Music B.M.E., M.M., D.M.Ed., University of Southern Mississippi 1000 ASU Dr. 863 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone: (601)877-3994 or 6138 Email: lkonecky@alcorn.edu

Dr. Konecky teaches sophomore level music theory, applied string instruments, strings class and aural skills class. He directs the computer-assisted instruction in music laboratory for which he writes software and supervises student and faculty use. He serves as assistant director to the Honors Curriculum Program, as campus coordinator of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge program, and as editor to the Honors Curriculum Program journal, Cognita. In addition, he serves as the chairman of the Natchez Festival of Music and performs on the cello with several local chamber groups in Natchez, Mississippi.

Dr. Donzell Lee Professor of Music and Director of the Honors Curriculum Program B.M., Xavier University M.A., Stanford University Ph.D., Louisiana State University 1000 ASU Dr. 175 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone: (601)877-6272 or 6138 Email: dlee@alcorn.edu

Dr. Lee teaches music education methods, music history, and applied piano and coordinates the departments recruiting efforts. He completed the Bachelor of Music in piano performance at Xavier University, the Master of Arts in piano performance practice at Stanford University, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Education (College Teaching) at Louisiana State University. He has presented numerous solo recitals in the South, and has performed extensively as an accompanist. Dr. Lee is a member of Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Mississippi Music Educators Association, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Delta Kappa education fraternity. In addition, Dr. Lee serves as the Director of the Honors Curriculum Program.

Dr. David Miller Professor of Music B.A., M.M., University of South Florida D.A., University of Mississippi 1000 ASU Dr. 1066 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone: (601)877-6602 Email: davemilleralcorn@yahoo.com

Dr. Miller teaches composition, music theory, orchestration, counterpoint, form and analysis, 20th century composition, jazz studies, music period courses and music appreciation. Compositions of his have been performed at universities and at conferences throughout the South. Dr. Miller is the Director of the highly successful Annual Alcorn State University Jazz Festival (see the "Jazz Festival" link on the Department of Fine Arts web page) and is an active performer and band leader with jazz groups that perform around the world. He was the creator, Executive Producer, writer, Project Director, Associate Producer and interviewer for the documentary film "ELLIS MARSALIS: Jazz Is Spoken Here" which has aired throughout the United States on PBS. Over the past several years Dr. Miller has been active in Thailand as a performer, clinician, band leader and educator. In addition to teaching at Alcorn State University, he has also taught at the University of South Florida, St. Leo College (St. Leo, Florida) and the University of Mississippi. His memberships include the International Association for Jazz Edcuators (Reginal Officer), American Association of University Professors (Chapter President), Composers Society, and the Louisiana Composers Guild.

Ms. Judy Porter Moore Instructor of Art B.A., M.A.Ed., Mississippi College 1000 ASU Dr. 29 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone: (601)877-3963

Ms. Moore currently teaches art appreciation, humanities, and painting. Her studies include an empahsis in oil painting, acrylic, and pastel. Past work experiences include teaching art to many age levels and school administration.

Mr. Brian Ransom Instructor of Woodwinds/Assistant Band Director B.M., New Mexico State Unviersity M.M., University of Southern Mississippi 1000 ASU Dr. 29 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone: (601)877-6265 Email: bransom@alcorn.edu

Mr. Ransom teaches music theory, aural skills, all woodwind related classes, and directs the concert band, as well as assisting with the Sounds of Dyn-o-mite Marching Band and basketball pep band. Mr. Ransom’s teaching experience includes work at The University of Southern Mississippi and Pearl River Community College, Hattiesburg campus. He has performed all over the United States in a variety of genres including classical, jazz, rock, country, and Hispanic, and in recent years has played many jazz and theatre productions around the Gulf Coast. In the classical genre, he has been blessed with many performances including the World Saxophone Congress with the USM Sax-Chamber Orchestra, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and on Capitol Hill in Washington, D. C. In 2003 he won the Band concerto competition at USM and was awarded a performance of the Ingolf Dahl Concerto with the Wind Ensemble, Thomas Fraschillo, conducting. Mr. Ransom can be heard on “America Remembers” and “Parabolically Bach”, both produced by Roméo Records, New York, NY. He is a lifetime member of Alpha Chi honor society.

Dr. Bernardo Scarambone Assistant Professor of Music/Accompanist B.M., National School of Music, Rio de Janeiro M.M., Indiana University D.M.A. University of Houston 1000 ASU Dr. 29 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone: (601)877-4032 Email: scarambone@hotmail.com

Dr. Bernardo Scarambone was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After graduating from the National School of Music in Rio de Janeiro, Dr. Scarambone received a scholarship to continue his studies at Indiana University, where he completed his Master's degree in 1999. The following year, Dr. Scarambone started his Doctoral degree at the University of Houston, completed in 2006. Dr. Scarambone played in several concert halls in the US, Brazil, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain, always with great success of public and critic. In addition, he received 13 prizes in National and International piano competitions, attended several International Music Festivals and was part of the jury in many national and international piano competitions. Dr. Scarambone mantains an active career as performer and lecturer throughout the US and abroad. His passion for contemporary music is reflected in his repertoire, including several world premieres.

Mr. Charles E. Wesley Assistant Professor of Music B.A., Xavier University M.A., Prairie View A. & M. University 1000 ASU Dr. 29 Alcorn State, MS 39096 Phone: (601)877-6603

Mr. Wesley teaches applied voice and choral music. He also serves as a voice and choral adjudicator and clinician. He performs regularly in musicals at Alcorn State University and with the Vicksburg, MS Theatre Guild. Mr. Wesley has had additional study in vocal pedagogy and church music at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana; Florida State Univeristy; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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