Valley Conservatory 25th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 3:30 pm
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UAH Roberts Recital Hall 3:30 pm Dr. Beatrice Renee Collins, Conductor
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Emma Boyd
Emma, a junior at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, is shining bright as one of our talented violinists chosen to perform at the Beethoven Triple Concerto alongside Esther Benjamin and Joshua Gaston. Her musical journey began at just 4 years old, guided by the expertise of Dr. Renee Collins and other inspiring teachers. During her time at Valley Conservatory, Emma honed her skills, learning the essence of fundamental technique and musicality. Check out her remarkable achievements below!
- Member of the New England Conservatory Philharmonic
- Performed at prestigious ensembles like the Alabama Allstate Orchestra, Valley Conservatory's Lyceum Orchestra, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.
- A dedicated member of the New England Conservatory's Black Student Union.
- Was a part of the Emerging Artist Program at the Mendocino Music Festival.
- Participated in music festivals including the Tennessee Valley Music Festival, National Youth Orchestra, and the Eastern Music Festival.
Joshua Gaston
Meet Joshua Gaston, the musical maestro ready to dazzle in the Beethoven Triple Concerto at our upcoming finale! A sophomore at Madison County Virtual Academy, and a student of Ms. Jane Hudson at Valley Conservatory, Joshua showcases remarkable piano skills. Check out some of his recent achievements below—we're bursting with pride to have him as part of Valley Conservatory!
Successfully auditioned and selected to participate in Belmont University's School of Music Piano Invitational in June 2023
Successfully auditioned and selected to participate in Belmont University's School of Music Piano Invitational in June 2023
- Privileged to perform all piano pieces at MCVA's Class of 2023 graduation and Hampton Cove Elementary's 5th grade graduation ceremonies
- Recognized as a Delta Sigma Theta (Alumnae Chapter) Honors Scholar for two years
- Achieved consistent placement on the "A" honor roll
- Served as an MCVA Student-2-Student (S2S) ambassador, aiding in the transition of military family students into school
Esther Benjamin
Step into the spotlight with Esther Benjamin, our shining star in today's #VCStudentShowcase! As a doctoral candidate in cello performance at the Hartt School of Music, Esther mesmerizes us with her spellbinding "Hartford Courante" lower register. Catch her breathtaking performance in Beethoven's Triple Concerto on April 28 alongside Emma Boyd and Joshua Gaston! Esther's musical journey began at Valley Conservatory under the tutelage of Dr. Renee Collins, where she honed her skills and became the principal cellist in the Huntsville Youth Symphony. Her victories in local and regional competitions on cello and piano are a testament to her exceptional talent. Despite her success, Esther remains rooted in Valley Conservatory's mission of making quality music education accessible to all.
Get ready to be blown away by Esther's remarkable achievements! Valley Conservatory is bursting with pride for our homegrown talent!
Get ready to be blown away by Esther's remarkable achievements! Valley Conservatory is bursting with pride for our homegrown talent!
- Received a Master of Music degree and a Performance Diploma in Cello Performance at Boston University School of Music
- Studied at Boston University School of Music with Grammy-winning cellist Michael Reynolds
- Earned a Music Education licensure for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda and was awarded the competitive Boston University Women's Guild scholarship
- Received the departmental award for Music Education despite not pursuing a degree in the field
- Has performed at Boston Symphony Hall under the baton of Bramwell Tovey, James Burton, Keith Lockhart
- Has performed at Tanglewood under the baton of Andris Nelsens
- Has worked with notable musicians including Bayla Keyes, Pavel Nersessian, Emmanuel Feldman, Greggory T.S. Walker, Joy Cline Phinney, and BSO musicians such as Steve Ansell (principal viola) and Mihai Jojatu (cello)
Devere Pride
Devere Pride, Bass/Saxophone, is from Cleveland Ohio where he studied bass in high school with a member of the Cleveland Orchestra. An all-around musician, Mr. Pride is well versed as a classical and jazz musician and is highly respected in both arenas. As an aspiring young bassist, Devere played in the Cleveland All-City Orchestra, and the Ohio All-State Orchestra in addition to his high school orchestra and band programs. He has played with the Northeast Ohio Regional Orchestra and continues to play with various community orchestras in the Huntsville/Madison, County area including the Valley Conservatory Symphony Chamber Orchestras and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra where he has been a member for more than 20 years.
On the jazz scene, Mr. Pride is one of the most sought after “gig” bass players in the region. Primarily self-taught through study on his own, Devere learned jazz from many musicians he met along the way and from listening to recordings and performances. An accomplished jazz artist within his own right, Devere has produced two CD recording with his group ‘The Devere Pride Trio’ and has played with several leading jazz artist including Fred Wesley, Ellis Marselas, Delfayo Marselas, Randy Weston, Jerry Byrd, Jimmy Heath and Houston Person.
In addition to his performing, Devere is also very active in hosting various jazz jam seesions throughout the community and teaches part-time at Oakwood University and the Valley Conservatory.
On the jazz scene, Mr. Pride is one of the most sought after “gig” bass players in the region. Primarily self-taught through study on his own, Devere learned jazz from many musicians he met along the way and from listening to recordings and performances. An accomplished jazz artist within his own right, Devere has produced two CD recording with his group ‘The Devere Pride Trio’ and has played with several leading jazz artist including Fred Wesley, Ellis Marselas, Delfayo Marselas, Randy Weston, Jerry Byrd, Jimmy Heath and Houston Person.
In addition to his performing, Devere is also very active in hosting various jazz jam seesions throughout the community and teaches part-time at Oakwood University and the Valley Conservatory.
Dr. Iris Fordjour-Hankins
Dr. Iris Fordjour-Hankins, 2013 Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition second-place winner at the University of Kentucky, earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in voice in 2021 from the same institution. Currently serving as an assistant professor at Oakwood University, adjunct professor at Alabama A&M University, and instructor at Valley Conservatory in Huntsville, Alabama, her 15-year tenure in vocal music education at Detroit Public Schools laid the foundation for her expertise.
She is dedicated to promoting the music of black composers and serves as board secretary for the International Florence Price Festival, advocating for Price’s music and other underrepresented composers. Her scholarship, funded by Oakwood University in 2023, focuses on spotlighting composer Evelyn Simpson-Curenton, exploring her compositions and arrangements for classically trained vocalists. Through lecture-recitals, she presents her research to various audiences, including Oakwood University’s Research and Development Symposium (May 2023), The New Canon Chamber Collective (Sept 2023), and the University of Texas Permian Basin (Feb 2022). Upcoming presentations include collaborations with Opera Philadelphia (Feb 2024) and Tennessee State University (April 2024), furthering her mission to educate about Simpson-Curenton's music's beauty and relevance for classically trained soloists in the post-COVID era.
Dr. Iris Fordjour-Hankins, a versatile classically trained soprano, excels as a soloist, recitalist, teacher, coach, and choral director. Her repertoire spans from Strauss to Bellini, including notable performances like the role of the Mother in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors (2023). As an ambassador for cultural exchange, she has sung in the U.S., China, and Jamaica, fostering collaboration and goodwill. Married to Ernest Hankins, III, with two children, she treasures her family as her greatest achievement.
She is dedicated to promoting the music of black composers and serves as board secretary for the International Florence Price Festival, advocating for Price’s music and other underrepresented composers. Her scholarship, funded by Oakwood University in 2023, focuses on spotlighting composer Evelyn Simpson-Curenton, exploring her compositions and arrangements for classically trained vocalists. Through lecture-recitals, she presents her research to various audiences, including Oakwood University’s Research and Development Symposium (May 2023), The New Canon Chamber Collective (Sept 2023), and the University of Texas Permian Basin (Feb 2022). Upcoming presentations include collaborations with Opera Philadelphia (Feb 2024) and Tennessee State University (April 2024), furthering her mission to educate about Simpson-Curenton's music's beauty and relevance for classically trained soloists in the post-COVID era.
Dr. Iris Fordjour-Hankins, a versatile classically trained soprano, excels as a soloist, recitalist, teacher, coach, and choral director. Her repertoire spans from Strauss to Bellini, including notable performances like the role of the Mother in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors (2023). As an ambassador for cultural exchange, she has sung in the U.S., China, and Jamaica, fostering collaboration and goodwill. Married to Ernest Hankins, III, with two children, she treasures her family as her greatest achievement.
Pete Harrison
Pete Harrison is a pianist, keyboardist, trombonist, arranger, composer, teacher, and singer. He provides quality music services to clients in greater Huntsville and north Alabama areas and has been in the music business for 42 years. He spent 27 years in military bands all over the world. Pete is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Pete has performed with Rufus Reid, Ken Watters, Joel Frahm, the Mills Brothers, Sadao Watanabe, Eddie Daniels, and many others.
Tom Branch
Tom Branch is the jazz percussion instructor at UAH. He holds degrees in both music and engineering from the University of Memphis. Tom performs in a wide variety of styles from jazz and swing to R&B, latin, and rock. He has worked with jazz artists including Dave Liebman, Marvin Stamm, Frank Strozier, Clifford Jordan, Rosemary Clooney, Ellis Marsalis, Steve Allen, and Ken Watters.
Dr. Beatrice Renee Collins
Dr. Beatrice Renee Collins, 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 experiences, 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 the college 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 and the Oakwood University Community Heros Award. Her bio is listed in the International Who's Who in Music.
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 experiences, 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 the college 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 and the Oakwood University Community Heros Award. Her bio is listed in the International Who's Who in Music.
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