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Teacher of the Year – 2009
Connie Macon
2009 Teacher of the Year
 The
recipient of the 2009 Alabama Music Teachers Association Teacher of
the Year Award is Connie Macon.
The award, presented at the annual AMTA conference,
recognizes a member who exhibits excellence in teaching,
musicianship, and service to AMTA and the community.
A former student had this to say about Connie, “She provided
encouragement, demanded hard work, and only allowed my best.”
This must certainly be a description to which we all can
aspire.
Mrs. Macon is from Columbiana, AL and has been
teaching for over 26 years.
She is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and a member
of Metro Music Forum.
She is also a member of the Birmingham Music Teachers Association
and is the Faculty Sponsor for both the MTNA Samford Collegiate
Chapter and the Omicron Gamma Chapter of Delta Omicron, professional
music fraternity. She
was chosen as the Chapter Advisor of the Year by the International
Fraternity of Delta Omicron for the 2007-08 year and is
president-elect for the Iota Province of Delta Omicron for 2009.
Connie has served as Director of the Samford
University School of the Arts Preparatory Music Department since
1989. As the creator
and director of the Preparatory Department’s Adventures in Music
Camp (grades 1-12) and the All Aboard for Music Camp (ages 3-6), she
has seen the camps grow in size and in creativity for the past 20
years with the help of many incredible teachers and university
student assistants. In
addition to her duties with the Prep Department, Mrs. Macon teaches
piano privately and also serves as adjunct instructor at Samford
University where she has taught piano pedagogy and class piano.
“The diversity of teaching all ages and levels of students
continues to challenge me as a teacher.
I like to keep my studio filled with all types of students.”
Connie studied pre-college piano for ten years
with Mrs. Betty Gillum in Sylacauga.
“Mrs. Gillum was the person I wanted to emulate.
She taught her students so well and always had new music
waiting in her special music cabinet.
I had the opportunity to study organ with her in the summers
and to assist and fill in for her at First Presbyterian Church when
I was in middle and high school.
Those opportunities were invaluable and I appreciate her
sharing those experiences with me.”
Mrs. Macon continued her piano studies at Samford University
where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance as a
student of Dr. Betty Sue Shepherd.
She went on to earn her Master's in Piano Pedagogy from
Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a student of Dr.
David Karp and Louise Bianchi.
At SMU, she was a Meadows Scholar and worked as a graduate
teaching assistant in class piano and in the preparatory division.
Mrs. Macon serves on the Executive Board of the
Alabama Music Teachers Association as Advertising Chair.
She is a co-chairman of the Birmingham Music Teachers
Association NFMC Solo Festival, Vice President of BMTA, and a past
president of Metro Music Forum.
She enjoys judging throughout the state for NFMC, AMTA, and
various Sonata, Scholarship, and Keyboard Auditions and Festivals.
Performances have included Preparatory Faculty Recitals,
programs with the Birmingham Quartet, and collaborations with
preparatory vocal and piano concerto students.
Additionally, Mrs. Macon has served as pianist at Knollwood
Presbyterian Church (Sylacauga), North Dallas Presbyterian Church,
Riverchase United Methodist Church, and Grace Presbyterian Chelsea.
Connie is grateful to those who shared their
love of music and piano with her.
“Mrs. Betty Gillum, Dr. Betty Sue Shepherd, and Dr. David
Karp were such wonderful role models and the best of teachers. They
knew how to motivate and were always planning ahead for the next new
inspiring piano repertoire.
I am blessed to have studied with these incredible musicians
and I am so honored and grateful to AMTA for this award.
So many AMTA members have encouraged me through my years in
this state. Thank you
to all who have been there to support and affirm me as a teacher and
pianist.”
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