Brice Evans and Ollie Liddell teach in Urban School environments at Little Rock Central High and Memphis Central High, respectively. Both programs have achieved national recognition through maintaining high expectations, teaching sound fundamental concepts, developing student leadership, parental involvement, and accessing community resources. The presenters will share teaching and organizational strategies that have led to successful programs in an Urban School environment.
Brice Evans
- Biographical Information
Brice Evans has been the Director of Instrumental Music at Little Rock Central HS since 2010 and teaches Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, Marching Band, AP Music Theory, and Intro to Music. He received both his Bachelor’s in Music Education and Master’s in Trombone Performance from Arkansas State University and is currently pursuing the Ph.D. in Music at Ole Miss. Prior to teaching at LRCH Mr. Evans’ career highlights included: 2000 Cotton Bowl Marching Grand Championship; 2001 Waikiki Holiday Parade Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Bombing of Pearl Harbor; 2006 UA-Monticello Marching Grand Championship; 2007 Disney Magic Music Days Outstanding Band; and performances at the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C. and Battery Park in New York City. Since 2010 the Little Rock Central HS band program has garnered numerous honors and accolades including: 6 Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association Sweepstakes Awards; the 2012 and 2015 UA-Monticello Marching Grand Championships; the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Cabot Marching Invitational Class C Outstanding Band; and the 2013 UA-Monticello Marching Contest Class 5A Championship. The Stereophonic Storm of the Mid-South proudly represented Arkansas in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Parade and in the 2016 Waikiki Holiday Parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 2017 the band participated in ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High and performed the world premiere of The Nine, a concert band work commissioned by the Little Rock Central High National Historic Site and composed by Randall Standridge. Mr. Evans has been a two-time semifinalist for the Grammy Music Educator of the Year Award. He is president of the Arkansas Jazz Educators, and his professional affiliations include The Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, Arkansas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu.
Ollie Liddell received his Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University and his Master of Music Degree from the University of Mississippi. He is classified as A.B.D. in completing his Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of Mississippi. After teaching in Mississippi and at East High School in Memphis, TN, Mr. Liddell took over the responsibilities of Director of Bands at Memphis Central High School. At Central, Mr. Liddell has transformed the band program including recognitions such as being recently featured on the 2018 fall season of the Lifetime Network series “Bring It”, being a four-time finalist at the Savannah Swing Central National Jazz Competition, winning the designation of Grand National Champion at the 2017 and 2018 National High Stepping Show Band Competition, and consistently receiving Superior Ratings in Concert Band, Wind Ensembles, Jazz Festivals, and Marching Contests. His individual recognitions include being a Teacher Effectiveness Measure Level 5 Educator, a one-time GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Semifinalist, a two-time GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Quarterfinalist and a Minority Scholar Fellowship recipient at the University of Mississippi. In addition to the contributions Mr. Liddell is making in the classroom for students, he is also very active in service to the music education profession, serving on the Shelby County Schools Fine Arts Leadership Council, serving as the President of the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, and a Peer Reviewer for the Tennessee Department of Education Student Growth Measures System for Teacher Evaluation. Liddell is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society as well as Pi Kappa Lambda and Gamma Beta Phi Graduate Honors Societies. He is also an active member of the Pi Alpha Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Liddell is an active clinician for music education and serves as a mentor to young band directors in Memphis/Shelby County.