On Wednesday, June 30th, 2021, the Iota Chapter of Gamma Xi Phi, the fraternity for artists, hosted their inaugural program, Finding Your Muse.  The virtual program highlighted Mr. Milton Williams, a music educator at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery, Alabama.

Finding Your Muse is a quarterly activity under the fraternity’s national Renaissance Conversation initiative.  Designed to uplift all who desire artistic careers, Finding Your Muse invites an artist from any discipline to discuss how they found their passion and developed it into a career. The event also details how artists managed to persevere during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and how they were able to continue to hone their crafts in times of crisis.

The keynote speaker was Mr. Milton Williams, a charter member and treasurer of the Iota Chapter, which serves Montgomery and Southeast Alabama. Williams holds degrees in Music Education from Huntingdon College and Auburn University, and an Educational Specialist degree from Liberty University. He has been the choral director at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School for 15 years where he teaches choral music, music theory, and music history. He has also adjudicated various choral, vocal, theatrical, and artistic competitions throughout Alabama and the South.

Putting a spin on the renaissance conversation, Williams did not just speak, but proved his passion for the art of music through a live piano concert. Williams showcased his professional history by breaking down each piece and why they were chosen.  He further explained how it was music and his love of teaching that helped him through the pandemic.

Iota Chapter Program Director Hunter Irby of Troy, Alabama hosted and moderated the event, with audience members from Alabama, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia.