Artists for the Drum
Gloria Harrison graduated from Florence High School and received her BA in vocal performance from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD. Retired in May, 2003, Gloria taught in Rapid City for 28 years, 1969-1970 at Meadowbrook Elementary School, 1970-1974 at West Junior High School, and 1980-2003 choral music grades 6-8 at Dakota Middle School. She was Artistic Director of the Rapid City Children's Chorus since it’s beginning in the summer of 1986 thru 2004. She now serves on the RCCC board as Director of Education and Development.
Mrs. Harrison's professionalism is evidenced by her dedication to young people. She was the Rapid City Area School District Teacher of the Year and a candidate for South Dakota Teacher of the Year in 1989. Ms. Brandt is recognized for her excellence in teaching by being selected for Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 1989, 1996, 1998, and 2004. She has also been selected for Who’s Who in American Education, 2006 and Who’s Who in American Women for 2006.
She developed and directed the South Dakota Ambassador of Excellence choral group who performed for the 8th World Conference for the Talented and Gifted in Sydney, Australia in 1989.
Under Mrs. Harrison's direction, the Rapid City Children's Chorus has had audition tapes selected for SD-ACDA, SD-MEA, North Central ACDA, North Central MEA and the 1993 National ACDA Convention. The chorus performed and participated in America Sings! Inc. in Washington, DC, in 1989. The choir participated in the Pacific Rim Children's Chorus Festival under the direction of Henry Leck in July, 2002. The Rapid City Children's Chorus performed in Carnegie Hall in 1996, 1999, and November, 2003 and appeared on the Today Show in 1996 and 1999.
Gloria Harrison has served as Junior High/Middle School Repertiore and Standards Chair for SD-ACDA, Hospitality Co-chair for the 1994 North Central ACDA Convention in Rapid City, and was co-chair of the 1995 summer Conference of SD-ACDA in Brookings. She organized the first South Dakota Junior Honor Choir for grades 7-9 in Pierre at the SD-ACDA Mid-Winter convention in January, 1993. She is the recipient of the first SD-ACDA Encore Award for her contribution to Choral Music. She received the Dakota Wesleyan University Alumni Association Outstanding Educator Award in 1997. Mrs. Harrison is a 1998-1999 graduate of the Technology in Teaching and Learning Academy and a DTL (Distance Teaching and Learning) 2000 graduate. She has written several grants for music technology and presented for TIE (Technology in Education). She is a member of OAKE (Organization of American Kodaly Educators) and ACDA (American Choral Director's Association). She received Level I certification for World Music Drumming with Will Schmid in June, 2000, and Level II certification for World Music Drumming in June, 2001. She was presented an Award of Excellence from the South Dakota Association for Middle Level Education on April 6, 2001 for implementing the World Music Drumming Curriculum at Dakota Middle School. She was presented the “Distinguished Service to Music” award from SDMEA (South Dakota Music Educators Association) in November, 2003. On January 21, 2005, South Dakota ACDA presented Mrs. Harrison the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution in choral music in South Dakota.
Gloria and her husband, Loren, live southwest of Rapid City, and enjoy gardening in their greenhouse and working in their woodshop.
|
|
