About Us

Beatrice Renee Collins-Tyree, conductor, music educator, performer, administrator, is the founding director and CEO of Valley Conservatory. Since its inception in 1998, the Valley Conservatory has exposed thousands of children and adults from pre-school through college-age to the arts. The Valley Conservatory has been the recipient of the “Business of the Year” award from the North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce and one of four finalists for the “Business of the Year” designated by the City of Madison Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Collins’ experiences cross several disciplines which include conducting teaching and performing. As a conductor she has directed several orchestra across the country including the Colorado Symphony, Women’s Philharmonic (San Francisco), Denver Young Artist Orchestra, Alabama All-State Reading Orchestra, West Tennessee All-State Orchestra, the Junior Orchestra of the Alabama String Teacher’s Association Honor Strings Festival, the Huntsville Youth Orchestra, Oakwood College Symphony Orchestra, Michigan State University Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra and members of the Aspen School of Music Festival Orchestra where she was a conducting scholarship recipient. 

During her doctorate studies at Michigan State University, she conducted the Michigan State University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras in various performances, served as vocal director for several opera/musical theater productions, and presented the first concert of symphonic music by composers of African descent. She is the first and only woman and person of color to serve as the Music Director/Conductor of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra and was the Founding Director of the Tennessee Valley Chamber Music Festival. She is also the Founding Director of the Valley Conservatory Lyceum and Chamber Orchestras.

In addition to her conducting experience, Dr. Collins has performed with various orchestras including the Greeley Philharmonic (Greeley, CO) and Midland Symphony Orchestras (Midland, MI) where she was a member of the viola section. She is also a freelance artist in the Huntsville/Madison area, where she regularly “gigs” with various orchestras and ensembles.

In the music education arena, Dr. Collins has taught music classes on all levels ranging from pre-school through college. She has taught applied piano, viola and violin on university level in addition to successfully teaching private instruction on these instruments at the Valley Conservatory. During her tenure as a music educator in the public schools in Colorado her vocal and orchestra ensembles received superior ratings in addition to winning numerous awards. Her orchestra was also selected to perform at the Colorado Music Educators Association Conference-Clinic.

Dr. Collins holds dual bachelor degrees in Music Education and Piano Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Microwave Dave Music Educator of the Year Award, the Oakwood University Community Heros Award, the City of Huntsville Certificate of Commendation Award and the Huntsville Metro Black Chamber Alfred Morris Legacy Award for more than 25 years of continuous excellence. Her bio is listed in the International Who’s Who in Music.