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Nan
Grantham
shares her biographical information as if she were speaking to the
young people in your music program.
I grew up in a small church in which members, including children,
often participated in the music program. I played the piano and
organ for services while still in high school, and even led the
choir one summer as a college student. I knew that I wanted to go
to college and study music, so that I could either (l) teach public
school music, (2) teach piano lessons, or (3) work with church music.
I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Mississippi
College in Clinton, Mississippi, and later earned a Master's of
Music Degree from the same school.
I consider myself
very fortunate to have been able to have all three careers. I taught
public school music several years, then taught a large piano class
for several more, and finally worked for 25+ years as a church musician.
I have been privileged to work in large churches with as many as
18 children's groups, but have also been able to work with vocal
groups of all ages and even church orchestras. A fourth career has
been that of composer/clinician. I have worked with children's choir
festivals and choir leaders in many states all over the country,
and have been a curriculum writer for Lifeway Children's Music Series
for 25+ years. That writing, plus writing for Choristers Guild,
has been very challenging and has allowed me to meet many wonderful
friends in the music field.
Special honors
that I treasure are the "Editor's Choice Award" given
by the Church Music Department of the Southern Baptist Convention
in 1993, the "Order of the Golden Arrow" award, given
by Mississippi College to outstanding alumni that same year, and
the Senseney Award for the Best Piano Teaching Aids in 1989 for
the Choristers Guild Language of Music Series.
Special privileges
that have been mine, as extra-curricular activities, have been directing
the Mass Piano Concerts in Jackson, Mississippi for many years,
and directing the Louisiana Baptist Children's Honor Choir on several
occasions.
Special joys
continue to be a part of my life, as I continue to work with children
and music through the Houston Children's Chorus and teaching a Home
School Music Class.
My husband,
Kerry, and I live in Fulshear Texas (Houston area), and enjoy being
near our son and daughter and their families, including 7 beautiful
grandchildren.
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