Velma Burnett is Music Instructor & Choir Accompanist, Trinity Valley Community College, Athens, Texas. Velma holds a B.A. in Biology (minor German) from Rice University, 1968; a Bachelor of Music (Theory/Composition), from Lamar University, 1986; and a Master of Music Education, from Texas A&M-Commerce, 2004. She is a member of Northside Baptist, Corsicana, Texas and has served as Church pianist, Northside Baptist, Corsicana, 2004-present; Music Assistant/Children's Choir Coordinator/Handbell Director, Liberty Baptist Church, Hampton, Virginia, 1996-2001; and church pianist in several earlier churches. Organizations, in which she holds membership, include Choristers Guild; AGEHR; MENC/TMEA; and The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. Music compositions include Jesus Has Come, in Glory Songs, Vol. 1, Number 3, April, 1981; Piano descants, For the Beauty of the Earth and Now Thank We All Our God, in Pedalpoint, Vol. 11, No. 4, October, 1991; Piano descants, Come, Ye Thankful People Come, For the Beauty of the Earth, and Now Thank We All Our God, in Piano Supplement to The Baptist Hymnal, Volume II, Broadman Press, Nashville, 1994; On Christmas Morn and Villagers All, This Frosty Tide. Unpublished works include choral works composed for Trinity Valley Community College Cardinal Singers and Chamber Singers, premiered December 2004; Elise's Blues, composed for the TVCC Wild Card Swing Orchestra, premiered May 2004; and For Our Heritage of Freedom, composed for TVCC Cardinal Singers, premiered May 2006. Velma was born in Houston, Texas, in 1946 and lists sewing, reading, and calligraphy as her hobbies. She is married with two grown children, Kathy (husband Larry) and David (wife Heather). Velma's husband, Jim Burnett, is a retired National Park ranger, and they have lived in or near 8 parks all over the U.S. Jim's first book, Hey Ranger! True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from America's National Parks, was published in 2005 by Taylor Trade Publishing. The sequel, Hey Ranger 2: True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from the Great Outdoors, is due out spring of 2007. "I have worked with children's choirs since 1993, and have rung or directed handbells since 1995. I was also privileged to coordinate the entire children's choir program (8 choirs) at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia, for 5 years (1996-2001). I grew up enjoying singing in church choirs and learning to play the piano and everything I learned was used again when, much later, I began to compose. I would urge young people, "Love God, love people, and love learning; use every gift He gives you to help someone else; and always have a thankful heart." (biographical information submitted 8/19/2006)

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