Atlanta Native Recipient of Excellence in Teaching Award by Independent Colleges and Universities Group

Related Media

Dr. Chip Hill; Winner of South Carolina Excellence in Teaching Award

GAFFNEY, SC (04/20/2011)(readMedia)-- Atlanta, GA [30338] native Dr. Harry "Chip" Hill, Professor of Music at Limestone College, has been recognized as the recipient of the 2011 Excellence in Teaching Award from South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Inc. (SCICU).

Hill joined the Limestone faculty in 1985. He has been included in Who's Who in America and Who's Who Among America's Teachers. On three separate occasions, he has been selected by his peers at Limestone to receive the Fullerton Foundation Faculty Award. He is currently a member of the Christian Performing Artists' Fellowship, where he also serves on the Board of Directors and is a member of its Executive Committee. Other memberships include the International Clarinet Association and the South Carolina Chapter of the Music Educators National Conference.

In addition to his responsibilities as an instructor at Limestone, Hill has served as the principal clarinetist of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra since 1985, is also second/utility clarinetist with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra and is the founder, coordinator, and principal clarinetist of the Arbor Wind Trio. He has been a featured soloist with the Asheville and Hendersonville Symphony Orchestras, the Foothills Philharmonic, as well as the Atlanta and Western North Carolina Chamber Orchestras. His professional performing career has allowed him to perform with orchestras throughout the Southeast including Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Tallahassee, Greenville and Knoxville. Dr. Hill has been a guest artist at the Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival and served as the principal clarinetist for the Mostly Modern Chamber Players.

Hill's skill and talents as an instructor have led him to regions far beyond the Southeast; in fact, he has performed on the opposite side of the globe. Last summer, he taught at SIAS International University in Xinzheng, People's Republic of China where he was also featured as the guest soloist in the first International Music Festival at SIAS. Since 1997, he has spent four weeks each summer on the clarinet faculty at the Master Works Festival in Winona Lake, IN and has spent two summers doing the same in London and Winchester, England.

Hill has also performed with numerous artists including Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Dinah Shore, Shirley Jones, Tony Bennett, Billy Taylor, and Midori. His clarinet playing has been featured in television commercials for the Lincoln Mercury Corporation and the Ingle's Grocery chain.

"For more than a quarter of century, Dr. "Chip" Hill has served Limestone as an outstanding music professor and has shared his talents as a professional clarinetist with enthusiastic audiences throughout the Carolinas," said Dr. Walt Griffin, President of Limestone.

Dr. Karen Gainey, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Executive Vice President adds, " Dr. Chip Hill is an extraordinary man: a brilliant musician, an inspiring teacher who encourages his students to strive for excellence, and a warm and caring colleague who reminds us by his example of what a professor can be."

Hill earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA; a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. He also served as the clarinet teacher for the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities from 2001-2007.

Each of the 20 member institutions of the SCICU consortium selects one faculty member each year to receive the award, which includes a professional development stipend for the professor. Each recipient is chosen by his or her institution according to rigorous criteria. The most important characteristic of the nominees is their demonstration of the highest standards in teaching methods that encourage students to strive for excellence in their studies and pursuits.

SCICU was established in 1953 with the primary mission of promoting independent higher education in South Carolina. SCICU seeks to advance independent higher education through fundraising, scholarships, research, and by facilitating collaborative activities among the 20 member institutions, which educate nearly 33,000 students each year. For additional information about SCICU, contact Mike LeFever or Brenda Torrence at 803-799-7122, or visit www.scicu.org.

Limestone College is a four-year, liberal arts institution in Gaffney, SC. Established in 1845, Limestone offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of social work, associate of arts, and associate of science degrees through traditional and non-traditional educational opportunities.