MC Music Professors Invited to Taiwan Conference

MC music professors Michael Rushing and Bonnie Blu Williams

Home to more than 100 hot springs and the towering Jade Mountain that stands nearly 4,000 meters tall, Taiwan also takes its seat on the world stage with its vast array of cultural attractions.

At the East Asia conference in early April at the National Taiwan Normal University, Mississippi College music professors Bonnie Blu Williams and Michael Rushing will discuss their research as they join scholars from around the globe.

The MC educators will be among 180 participants at the meetings on the campus in Taipei. They will discuss the theoretical model of music assessment that will help educators determine the musical development of their students.

The theme of the conference is “Music Assessment and Global Diversity- Policy, Measurement and Practice.’’

“It is important for Mississippi College faculty to participate in the larger academic community and we are honored that our colleagues in the field would invite us to share our research,’’ Rushing said. “We look forward to seeing and hearing scholars in our field from around the world.’’

Rushing serves as director of MC’s Taylor School, a community arts program serving Clinton and the entire Jackson metro area. He oversees the master of music in piano pedagogy program on the Clinton campus.

Rushing received a doctor of musical arts degree in piano pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. The Florence resident earned the bachelor of music and master of music degrees from Mississippi College. A former Jones County Junior College instructor in Ellisville, he’s a member of the Brick Street Trio that entertains at events in metro Jackson.

Teaching elementary vocal music methods, Williams sings with the Jackson Choral Society. She’s been a resident professor for the Mississippi College London Semester Program for three years. The Clinton resident earned her bachelor’s degree in music education at Northwestern State University in Louisiana. She received a master’s and  doctorate at the University of North Texas. Williams is a past president of the Mississippi Music Educators Association.

During their visit that begins April 7, the professors plan to meet with some Mississippi College graduates living in Taiwan. As students, they were part of the international studies program at Mississippi College, graduated from the Christian university and later returned home to Taiwan.