Chapter Sponsors

Mr. Jerry Hoover

    Jerry Hoover is the Director of Bands at Missouri State University, where he supervises a student offering of eighteen bands.  He personally directs the Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Freshman Honor Band, several entertainment ensembles, the Bear Mania Basketball Band, and the Pride Marching Band.

    During his twenty years in the public schools (Cabool '58 - '61, Lebanon '61 - '69, Jefferson City '69 - '78) he developed award-winning concert, marching, and jazz bands, with his groups being selected to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Tournament of Roses Parade, and on the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference.  In 1978, Mr. Hoover accepted the band position at New Mexico Stat University and then took his current position at Missouri State, as Director of Bands, in 1985.  While at Missouri State, his bands have performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ('88, '96', and '01), Orange Bowl Parade, BOA Grand National Championships, Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Mexico International Jazz Festival, Montruex Jazz Festival, Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, and at several professional football half-times.

    Mr. Hoover is past president of the Missouri Chapter of Phi Beta Mu and is the Music Director of the London-based "Youth Music of the World," overseeing New Year's Day parades in London and Paris, and the "Easter in Maastricht" Music Festival held each spring in The Netherlands.

Dr. Belva Prather

    Dr. Belva Worthen Prather received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Arkansas Tech University, her Masters of Music from Northwestern University, and her Doctorate of Education from the University of Arkansas.  Dr. Prather's primary teachers in performance and music education were Russell Langston, Gene Witherspoon, Robert Bright, Eldon Janzen, John Pyanter, and Walfrid Kujala.  In addition, she studied in the Diploma Conducting Program at the University of Calgary, Canada.  At Missouri State University, Dr. Prather conducts the University Wind Ensemble, the University Wind Symphony, the Flute Ensemble, the Woodwind Ensemble, and assists with the Pride Marching Band.  She also teaches in the Masters program and was recently appointed Coordinator of Wind and Percussion Studies.

    Dr. Prather's Thirty-two year teaching career has included work on the elementary, junior high, high school, and university levels.  She is active as a flutist, conductor, adjudicator, and clinician, and has served in that capacity in twenty-three states and nine European countries.  She recently conducted the Arkansas All-State concert Band and has served as conductor at the Ark-La-Tex Band Clinic.  Dr. Prather's career includes twenty-eight appearances as a performer and/or conductor at state and national music conventions, including the American Bandmasters Association, The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Nels Vogel Convention, the Missouri Music Educators Convention, the Adult Community Band Conference, the World Band Conference, the Music Educators National Conference, and the National Flute Association Convention.  Dr. Prather is an Alumnus of Tau Beta Sigma, and an Honorary of Kappa Kappa Psi.