Music Department welcomes IMA guests

Kesha Williams
February 12, 2014

There’s no shortage of talent when HBCU students gather each year for the grand concert. Elizabeth City State University’s Music Department hosted the 54th annual Intercollegiate Music Association (IMA) conference for three days last week. From big band to classical music, the conductors had something special in mind for the audience who attended the IMA Grand Concert on February 8. The audience was not disappointed. Afterwards, students, staff and faculty exchanged hugs and handshakes then posed for pictures. ECSU students and Dr. Walter Swan, gathered on stage of the Mickey L. Burnim Fine Arts Center to celebrate another memorable conference. This year’s conference included over 125 students and music faculty and staff from 9 of the 11 member institutions. The IMA Symphonic Band, Choir, String Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble performed for an audience of more than 100 attendees from the Elizabeth City area and beyond. &quotThe Intercollegiate Music Association Conference provides a real life experience for our students as future music educators and performers. By participating, the students are challenged under new instructions to apply the daily skills taught within the music departments,&quot Swan said. &quotThe conference further allows the students the opportunity to received confirmation of knowledge presented by their current instructors, builds confidence in the student’s abilities to interact and execute their skills based on taught lessons. For many, the conference serves a forum and provides a platform for each participant to actively execute the basic principles of music and musicianship.&quot Guest clinicians for the 2014 IMA Conference included ECSU faculty members, Tomisha Brock, Dr. Mary Hellmann, Douglas Jackson, and Dr. Christopher Palestrant who conducted workshops as a part of the conference’s Professional Development Series. The guest conductors included: Mr. Eddie Ellis (South Carolina State University), Dr. Eric Poole (St. Augustine’s University), Dr. Timothy Holley (North Carolina Central University), and Mr. James Holden (Virginia State University). In addition to the grand conference, The IMA Royzell Dillard Scholarship Student Recital was held at First United Methodist Church (201 S. Road St) on February 7. Three IMA participants performed solo works for the audience.