During the 2008 Alabama Music Teachers Association Conference, Vincentine Williams received the AMTA Teacher of the Year award. The award is presented annually to a member who exhibits excellence in teaching, musicianship and service to AMTA and the community.

Vincentine, from Spanish Fort, AL, has been teaching for over 38 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Fine Arts degree in piano performance from Tulane University in New Orleans where she studied with concert pianist Sylvia Zaremba. She has also done advanced study in piano with artist teachers in New Hampshire and France.

Mrs. Williams maintains membership in several local, state and national professional organizations and is permanently certified by the Music Teachers National Association. She has been on the Executive Board of AMTA as the State Certification Chairman and as tri-chair of District I. She has held offices both in Mobile and Baldwin County Music Teachers Associations and has coordinated the Annual Sonata Contest sponsored by the MMTA.

Mrs. Williams is organist and choir director at Ascension Lutheran Church in Daphne. She has taught Music Appreciation at Faulkner Community College and Eastern Shore Institute for Lifelong Learning in Fairhope. Presently, she operates an independent studio in Spanish Fort where she resides with her husband, a retired court reporter and classical pianist. She is an active member of the Schumann Club of Mobile where she performs regularly on concerts and has taught for many years at the Summer Music Camp at University of Mobile.

Vincentine believes that music contributes to the intellectual, spiritual, social, and emotional growth of an individual and that it develops creativity, self-confidence and discipline of mind and body. Her goal in teaching, therefore, is to develop character and self-esteem in her students. She encourages all students, not just those musically gifted, to perform in recitals, competitions, auditions and various community and church functions. Her influence is far-reaching providing quality instruction to those preparing for professional careers as well as those studying music for personal enrichment and enjoyment. A person always willing to serve and to help, we congratulate Vincentine Williams.

Article from Soundboard of the AMTA