Olivia Brown Abernathy
Attended JSU: 2011 to 2015 Major: Music Education What are you up to now? This past May I earned my Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from the University of South Carolina studying with Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley, and I chose to stay at USC to complete my Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance because USC and Dr. Parker-Harley are amazing. I'm in my first semester as a doctoral student. My husband and I live outside Columbia, SC, with our two dogs and our cat. I maintain a private flute studio in the Columbia area and I am also an instructor for USC's Community Music School. I'm currently working on finishing the requirements for my KinderFlute certification. My husband is currently a social worker. |
Christy Bryan
Attended: 1992-1996 and 2011-2013 Major: Bachelor Music Ed 1992-1996 and Master of Arts in Music 2011-2013 What are you up to now? A Jacksonville native, she served 1992-1995 with Marching Southerners, 1993-1996 Wind Ensemble, and 2013 Flute Choir. In the 2015-16 school year, she served as elementary band director with Birmingham City Schools. She is currently serving as middle school choir director for Selma City Schools since 2016. |
Kara Burgess
Attended JSU: 2010-2016 Major: Nursing with a minor in Music What are you up to now? While attending JSU, I was a member of the Marching Southerners playing flute for two years and serving as drum major for three. I was a also member of the flute studio and a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi. During this time, I studied under Dr. Benson earning my minor in music. Once my time in the Marching Southerners was complete, I began nursing school and graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I currently live in Newnan, Georgia and work in the ICU at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. |
Joie Byrd
Attended JSU: 2012 to 2016 Major: Music Education What are you up to now? During my time at JSU, I was a member of the Marching Southerners and served as a drum major for two years. I was a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi and a member of the JSU Flute Studio. Currently, I am now a fife musician in the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. I wouldn't trade the experiences that I've gained at JSU for anything. They've helped mold me into the person I am today. |
Alana Garrett
Attended JSU: 2013-2017 Major: Music Education What are you up to now? Alana Garrett is the band director at Albertville Middle School. She is a 2013 graduate of Robert S. Alexander High School in Douglasville, GA. Alana attended Jacksonville State University, where she was a member of the JSU Marching Southerners and the JSU Chamber Winds. Alana served as a flute section leader for the Marching Southerners in 2015 and as a Marching Southerners Drum Major in 2016. She was also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. Alana graduated in April 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music Education. Alana lives in Fort Payne with her husband Jace. |
Anne Marie Hester
Attended JSU: 2009-2014 Major: Music Education What are you up to now? I am currently living in Fort Collins, Colorado and completed my Master's Degree in Music Therapy at Colorado State University. I am a National Board-Certified Music Therapist! I'm incredibly excited and know that my years at JSU prepared me for this opportunity. |
Bess Laird
Attended JSU: 2013-2017 Major: General Music What are you up to now? Elizabeth Laird is a flutist and composer living in Tallahassee Florida where she studies Flute Performance with Professor Eva Amsler as a member of the FSU College of Music’s graduate studies program and teaches music at the Arts and Recreation for Tallahassee Students after school program. Ms. Laird received her bachelor’s degree in music from Jacksonville State University where she studied with Dr. Jeremy Benson and was exposed to excellent opportunities as a member of his flute studio family. |
Ariana Stark
Attended JSU: 2015-2017 Major: Music Education What are you up to now? Ariana hold a Master’s Degree in Music from Jacksonville State University (JSU) from 2017. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Spring 2015. While working as a graduate assistant at JSU, she has had opportunities to explore and expand her knowledge base, particularly in contemporary techniques and within the scope of music history. Currently, Ariana is working with students in Orlando Florida, while continuing her research into recently published works within the flute body of literature. She is also the foremost researcher on the vocal stage works of composer Paul Shapera, and hoping to incorporate this into a personal project, soon to be released. When not practicing or reading, Ariana can be found sewing, drawing, or playing dungeons and dragons. |
Emily Willingham
Attended JSU: 2014-2018 Major: Music Education What are you up to now? I am teaching band at Scoggins Middle School. While in college, I was the section leader for the Marching Southerners flute line and principal chair in the JSU Wind Ensemble. I am a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, GMEA, and NAFME. When I am not teaching, I play piano and organ for my church and direct our youth choir. |