Dr. Kellie Brown published a review of Teaching Genius: Dorothy Delay and the Making of a Musician by Barbara Lourie Sand in the Music Educator’s Journal, Vol. 93/No. 5. She performed as assistant concertmaster with the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony of the Mountains Orchestra. In Fall 2007, she organized an area-wide string orchestra workshop at Milligan and conducted Rodger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella at Sullivan South High School and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker with the Inter City Ballet at the Eastman Employee Center Auditorium in Kingsport. In addition, Brown published a book review of Edward Lisk’s The Creative Director: Conductor, Teacher, Leader in the Music Educators Journal in January and attended Viola Celebration!, a conference for viola players and teachers, at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. 

     Anne Elliott was guest piano faculty at the ETSU Piano Camp in July 2007.  She directed the Highest Praise Vocal Ensemble of Central Baptist Church, Johnson City, in a vocal concert in July 2007 at Central Baptist and again for Christmas at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina in December 2007. In addition, Elliott performed a piano duo concert along with Dr. Sharon N. Rush for Christmas at Biltmore Estate in November 2007. Also in November 2007, she was drama co-writer, producer, and musical director for Victorian Christmas at Central Baptist Church.  She served as Treasurer for the Appalachian Music Teachers Association May 2007-2008, and in June 2008, attended the Tennessee Music Teachers Association convention at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee.  Elliott also served as adjunct music faculty for Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee where she taught Introduction to Western Music at their Morristown campus. 

     Dr. David Runner accompanied the Johnson City Civic Chorale in two Tri-Cities performances of the Duruflé Requiem last October and the Appalachian State University Chamber Choir in a performance of Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb in November. During April Runner presented a lecture on organ literature to a class of organ students at the Hayes School of Music, Appalachian State University in Boone, NC per the request of University Organist Dr. Joby Bell and performed an organ recital at that school as part of their Visiting Artist Series.

     Rick Simerly was artist in residence with the Trinity Jazz Orchestra in Pittsburgh and the Dayton Jazz Orchestra in Ohio. Additionally, he taught two weeks at the University of Louisville for the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshops and performed concerts and clinics throughout the southeast. Simerly was involved with three major recording projects. In October, he was featured soloist for a Chicago recording session of the John Cooper Big Band. The soon-to-be-released CD is a seven-movement jazz worship service. In addition, he recorded a CD of jazz etudes by renowned composer Lennie Niehaus entitled Maiden Voyage Jazz Solos for Trombone, which has been released. He was also involved in a recording session of New Orleans music for ESPN Monday Night Football. In November, he and New York trombonist Conrad Herwig were featured soloists for East Tennessee State University’s Jazz at the Millennium – Trombonemania!. Simerly was interviewed for an article, “Jazz Trombone and the Microphone,” by Antonio J. Garcia, published in the January issue of the International Trombone Association Journal. In addition, he conducted a jazz clinic and performed a concert at Appalachian State University and was a featured performer at the Grove Park Inn’s “All That Jazz” festival.

     Dr. John Wakefield attended the fall meeting of the Board of Trustees of MacMurray College in IL and conducted the East Tennessee prep rehearsal of the All-State High School Honors Choir. He also served in an advisory role to two area churches regarding worship. Last summer, he presented a lecture-recital on hymnody at the University of the South (Sewanee). He performed a lecture-recital of Christian hymns at Bluefield College and was the speaker for a Saturday workshop on music and worship. He also directed a Hymn Festival at Memorial Presbyterian Church, Elizabethton, Tennessee. Wakefield received the doctor of ministry degree in liturgical studies from the School of Theology at the University of the South on May 9.