Dr. Marcia M. Hood – Artistic Director
Dr. Marcia Mitchell Hood received degrees from the University of Alabama in Piano Performance, Music Education, and Choral Conducting. She also studied piano with Nancy Marsh Wright, voice with Susan Curtis Fleming, and choral conducting with Fred Prentice and Gregory Gentry. Her performing interests fuse the three disciplines: singing professionally, serving as Director of Choral Activities at Albany State University, and performing classical piano literature. Hood has gained regional reputation as a cantata/oratorio specialist, both singing and conducting. She has served as assistant conductor of the Tuscaloosa Community Singers where her duties included preparing works to sing with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Hood is currently the Coordinator of Choral Activities for the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic Director of the Albany Chorale. She serves on the Albany Symphony Board as well as plays keyboard in the orchestra. Recently Hood played continuo for Bach’s Brandenburg Variations and served as soloist for No. 5, which featured the harpsichord. Last year, she performed Bach’s celebrated Goldberg Variations in Albany and Fitzgerald.
Prior to coming to Albany, Dr. Hood taught Choral Music and Musical Theatre in the Tuscaloosa City and County Schools, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where her choral groups won many honors and awards. She is currently the Chair of the Department of Fine Arts at Albany State University and the Director of Choral Activities where she conducts the world travelled ASU Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers.
Dr. Hood is the recipient of the Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Service to Music Education Award as well as the Outstanding Music Educator Druid Arts Award given by the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, Delta Kappa Gamma Education Sorority and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Meri Beth Hillard – Accompanist
Meri Beth was born in Spokane, Washington, and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She began her piano studies at an early age and studied music at both The University of New Mexico and Calvin College. Currently, she is active as a teacher, performer, and church administrator. As music/youth assistant at First United Methodist Church in Albany, she directs the youth choirs, plays for the sanctuary choir, and assists in the worship services. She accompanies music majors as well as the college choir and vocal ensemble at Darton College. Meri Beth also has a studio of private piano students. She is in demand as an accompanist for recitals, chamber ensembles and choruses throughout the region. Meri Beth lives in Albany with her husband Claire Fox Hillard, and their three children: Jessica & Tim Morris, Kelsey and C.J.