Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           www.selu.edu/NewsEvents
    Date: 2/27/98
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  95

Editors: Photos accompany release -- Please note local interest
SLU TO INDUCT THREE INTO "MUSIC HALL OF FAME"
     HAMMOND -- Three new members will be inducted into the Southeastern Louisiana
University Music Department "Music Hall of Fame" at the March 6 concert featuring the SLU
Chamber Winds. 
     The free concert, which is part of the department's spring "Encore!" music series, is
scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium. The concert will be followed
by a reception in the lobby of the Pottle Music Building.
     The Music Hall of Fame recognizes Southeastern graduates "who have distinguished
themselves in their careers and personal lives and who have brought favorable recognition to the
university and the Music Department." 1998 inductees are music educator and composer Condit
Atkinson of Delray Beach, Fla.; Professor Emeritus of Music and Dean Emeritus of the College
of Humanities James H. Wilcox of Hammond, and the late Ronald Brothers of Hammond, long-
time Southeastern music instructor and staff accompanist.
     Atkinson, a New Jersey native, earned the bachelor's degree in music education at
Southeastern, graduating with honors in 1950. He earned a master's degree in music education
from The College of New Jersey and also studied at Louisiana State University and Rutgers
University. 
     Atkinson was director of music and band in New Jersey's Highland Park school system
and at Middlesex County College. For 15 years he directed the summer Middlesex County Band
School and was the first director of the New Jersey All-State Jazz Ensemble in 1971. Atkinson
has composed and published more than 100 compositions including a wide variety of works for 
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SLU MUSIC HALL OF FAME  -- Add One
piano solo, chamber music, band and choral ensembles, secular and sacred anthems, jazz and
orchestral compositions. An active performer since his college days, Atkinson served a four year
tour with the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point and played professionally with the
Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Jackson (Mississippi) Symphony and Opera Orchestra, and
in New Jersey with the Trenton Symphony, Plainfield Symphony and New Brunswick
Symphony orchestras. Since retiring in 1983, he continues to compose and perform.
     Wilcox, who was born in Bolton, England, and has lived in the United States since age of
five, earned a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin; master's 
degrees in music education from Northwestern (Illinois) University and in music theory from the
Eastman School of Music, and a doctoral degree in music theory from Florida State University.
He joined the SLU faculty in 1946 following his service in the U.S. Army Band and as Chief
Warrant Officer Band Leader in South Carolina and the China-India-Burma theater.
     In 1964, Wilcox succeeded Dr. Ralph Pottle as head of the Southeastern music
department. He was appointed Dean of the College of Humanities in 1970. Following his
retirement as Dean, he continued to teach part-time in the music department until 1991. 
     As head of the music department he began plans to enlarge the Pottle Music Building
with the addition of the Music Annex. The Music Annex and the Recital Hall projects were
completed during his tenure as Dean. He was awarded the titles Professor Emeritus of Music and
Dean Emeritus of the College of Humanities in recognition of his many years of service and
leadership to Southeastern Louisiana University.
     In addition to his teaching and administrative activities, Wilcox has been active as a
professional hornist with the Milwaukee Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, New Orleans
Summer Pops Orchestra and Jackson (Mississippi) Opera. He is the author of many published
musical transcriptions, articles on music education, and a music theory textbook. His career
includes conducting a large number of concert programs including band, choral, orchestra, opera
and Broadway musicals. 
     Brothers, a native of Monroe, La.,  joined the faculty at SLU in 1981 as accompanist and
instructor of organ. He received a bachelor's degree in piano and master's degree in organ
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SLU MUSIC HALL OF FAME -- Add Two
from Northeast Louisiana University. Prior to his appointment at Southeastern, he was instructor
of organ at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. 
     He was a well-known member of the American Guild of Organists, performing in recitals
throughout the southern United States, and was recognized for his special expertise in choral,
vocal and instrumental accompanying and in church music and liturgy. Since 1972 he served as
organist at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, and in 1990 was appointed organist/music
associate at Broadmoor Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. 
     Brothers held memberships in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Organ Historical
Society of America, American Guild of Organists, Louisiana Music Teachers Association and
Music Teachers National Association.
                                 - SLU -
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