2. Interview with Dr. Blair Williams, Texas Tech University

Dr. Blair Williams (PhD, The Ohio State University, MM, Kansas State University, BME, Baylor University) is an Assistant Professor of String Music Education in the School of Music at Texas Tech University. Her duties at Texas Tech include supervising string student teachers, teaching courses in string music education, instruction in instrumental/orchestral conducting, and directing the Texas Tech University String Project.During the summers, Dr. Williams is active with the TTU Summer Master of Music Education program, the TTU Band and Orchestra Camp Academy for beginning students, and the TTU Band and Orchestra Camp. Additionally, she serves on the editorial board for American String Teacher, on the National String Project Consortium Board, on the ASTA Collegiate Committee, as a Member-at-Large for NAfME-Texas, as the TMEA Region 16 College Chair, and as an advisor to the Epsilon Pi chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon and the TTU Student Chapter of the American String Teachers Association.  Dr. Williams has presented clinics regionally and nationally including invited sessions at the National Association for Music Education National In-Service Conference, the annual American String Teachers Association conference, the Ohio State String Teacher Workshop, Texas Music Educators Association, and Colorado Music Educators Association. Her research interests include: rural string music education, music teacher education, secondary music teaching, and viola. She has been published in The American String Teacher and SmartMusic.Additional conducting engagements have included: youth, regional, and all-city ensembles in Kansas, Texas, Ohio, and Oregon; Graduate Conductor/Section Coach-Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras, Chamber Strings; Graduate Conductor-Kansas State Orchestra; Assistant Director/Administrator of the Gold Orchestra (Manhattan, KS) including an invited performance at The Midwest Clinic in 2010; and Associate Director/String Coordinator of the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra. After earning her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor, Dr. Williams served as Director of Orchestras and the Associate Director of Orchestras in Midway ISD, Waco, TX teaching grades 5-12. While teaching in Texas, Dr. Williams' ensembles (string and full) consistently received superior ratings and sweepstakes awards at UIL Solo and Ensemble, UIL Large Group Contest, and other festivals. In 2009, she founded the Midway High School chapter of Texas Future Music Educators with 20 students. Dr. Williams also continues to enjoy working with public school students as a guest adjudicator, clinician, and conductor. She is a member of ASTA, NAfME, TMEA, Pi Kappa Lambda, CMS, and Mu Phi Epsilon.