A Special Award of
The John Philip Sousa Foundation
Valerie Morgan is the middle school band director at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been at Woodward Academy for 16 of her 37 years of teaching. Mrs. Morgan has served as chair of District and All-State Band events for the Georgia Music Educators Association. She was also chair of 9-10 All-State Band from 1993 to 1995. Mrs. Morgan was selected to present a rehearsal lab clinic at the 2014 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, she presented the clinic, “Ready, Set, Grow: Establishing Great Habits and High Motivations for Your Beginning Band Students” at the 2020 GMEA Inservice Conference. Mrs. Morgan was selected as a state finalist for the Alabama Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame in 2018.
Bands under Mrs. Morgan’s direction have only earned superior ratings in all evaluated festivals events for over 30 consecutive years. In addition to GMEA festival ratings, bands under Mrs. Morgan’s direction have won numerous sweepstakes and division awards in competitions such as Festival Disney, Music in the Parks, Smoky Mountain Music Festival, and the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational.
Mrs. Morgan received her Bachelor of Music Education from Troy University in Alabama, and her Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
- The Bandworld Legion of Honor was established in 1989 to honor, over the course of a year, eight of the finest band directors in our business.
- Recipients have taught for at least fifteen years, have maintained a very high-quality concert band program, and have contributed significantly to the profession through dedication to bands and band music.
- Each is honored at the annual Sousa Foundation awards ceremony during the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
- Chairman of the Legion of Honor Committee is Terry Austin, Virginia Commonwealth University.
When asked what factors do you consider most important in shaping your career, Valerie states, “I was very fortunate to begin my career in Clayton County, Georgia. During that time, it was a very positive culture and there were many wonderful band programs in the area. There was a strong mentor organization, too, and I had many great teachers take me “under their wing.” I owe a great deal of gratitude to terrific teachers like Dr. David Gregory, Mr. Ed Davis, Mr. Ben Hines, Mr. Dan Wilson, and Mrs. Martha Lynn Volman for sharing their knowledge and support.”
Her professional philosophy statement is, “I believe that music is imperative in the education of the whole child. Exposure and experience in music allows individuals to express emotions and to develop skills in a unique and important learning environment. Through music, and particularly through a large ensemble experience, students develop analytical, creative and collaborative skills. A student participating in band, for example, will learn to decipher musical notation, will learn to apply that information by manipulating an instrument, and must use his or her ears to assess the quality of the sound produced. I believe that the excellence achieved as an individual and as a group through experience in band class, is something that he carries with him in all aspects of his life. I have spent most of my career teaching the middle school learner. I love the potential of their emerging independence and development. I love their energy, creativity and curiosity. Our classroom is a very fast-paced environment where students are engaged, active learners. They progress very quickly on their instruments at this age and it is exciting to foster these musical skills. Students are offered many opportunities for achievement and thrive in meeting these goals and making great music with their friends.
“In my thirty-seven years as an educator and band director, I have been fortunate to teach in a number of different schools and each situation was distinctive. Over the years, I have taught in rural Alabama, suburban Birmingham, urban Atlanta, suburban Atlanta, and an independent preparatory school. Though my students in these various programs have come from diverse backgrounds, there has been much commonality between them all as members of vibrant, successful bands. Through systematic pedagogy, selection of quality musical literature and a focus on the band community and its collaborative music-making, both individual and ensemble success has been high in each of these settings. I believe all students want to excel; my job is to share knowledge, develop skills and inspire and encourage each student to become their personal best!”
