ΤΒΣΤΒΣ ΤΒΣΤΒΣ ΤΒΣ Picks First Crider Award Winner as Professional Relations Officer

ΤΒΣ ΤΒΣ ΤΒΣ ΤΒΣ ΤΒΣ Picks First Paula Crider Award Winner as Professional Relations Officer

The National Council of Tau Beta Sigma is pleased to announce that Dr. Johnnie B. Vinson, Director of Bands and Sponsor of the Theta Lambda Chapter at Auburn University, has been selected to serve as the Professional Relations Officer for the remainder of the 1999-2001 biennium. Karon Miller, National President for ΤΒΣ, met with Dr. Vinson recently when she was at the Auburn campus to attend the third degree of their membership candidacy class of 27 initiates, and he expressed his enthusiasm for the Sorority and his excitement for the opportunity to work at the national level. His ΤΒΣ Chapter currently is one of the strongest in the nation with 90 members, and he is very proud of his affiliation with both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma.

During this visit, Karon presented Dr. Vinson with the first Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director Award. The Paula Crider Award was created to honor outstanding university band directors who have distinguished themselves in the field of university bands and who have been supportive of Tau Beta Sigma and its ideals

Now in his twenty-ninth year at Auburn, Dr. Vinson previously served as Assistant Band Director, then as Associate Director and Director of the Marching Band before becoming Director of Bands in 1991. Prior to joining the Auburn faculty, he taught in the public schools of Columbus, Georgia, and worked as a Graduate Assistant with the bands at the University of Texas and University of Mississippi. At Auburn, he supervises the overall band program, conducts the Symphonic Band, and teaches conducting, band literature and band arranging. He is also faculty sponsor to Auburn’s Theta Lambda Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.

With over 250 published works, Dr. Vinson is an internationally recognized arranger/composer of music for band, writing primarily for the Hal Leonard Publishing Corp. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States.

Dr. Vinson is active professionally as a member and officer in a number of organizations. He presently serves as Immediate Past President of the Alabama Music Educators Association, and is former Alabama State Chair for the College Band Directors National Association. He is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Band Association and is Past President of Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. In addition, he is a member of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

In 1994, Dr. Vinson was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He has been presented the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence, and in January 1998, was elected to the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame.

He received the Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees in Music Education from Auburn, and the Doctor of Arts degree in Music Theory from the University of Mississippi.

The National Council is thrilled to have Dr. Vinson join the ΤΒΣ team and looks forward to a most productive biennium with Dr. Vinson’s involvement and guidance.

Tau Beta Sigma Trustees Scholarship

The Tau Beta Sigma Trustees Scholarship was designed to provide assistance to women who are preparing to enter the field of music education. Scholarship recipients are awarded $500 and have their name added to the “Plaque of Honor’ at the National Headquarters.

Active female members of Tau Beta Sigma may apply, prior to their junior or senior years. Applicants must be Music Education majors, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 (on a 4.0 Scale), and have been an Active member of Tau Beta Sigma for at least one year at the time of the application. Recipients must remain an active member of Tau Beta Sigma during the academic year in which they receive the scholarship.

For complete information regarding the application process, please refer to your new Chapter Operations Handbook/Constitution.