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Alumni > Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Awards > Dr. Samuel Jones - 2009 Alumnus of the Year

Dr. Samuel Jones - 2009 Alumnus of the Year

A native of Indianola, Mississippi, Dr. Samuel Jones came to Millsaps in 1953. He lost no time inspiring his fellow students with his love of music. In his freshman year he organized and conducted the Millsaps College Band. While the band wasn't quite large enough to spell an "M" on the football field, fans loved its music and the band enhanced team spirit for the Majors.

Sam received his B.A. at Millsaps in 1957 and went on to earn a master of arts and doctor of philosophy degrees in music composition at Eastman School of Music. He conducted the Rochester Philharmonica and Saginaw Symphonies before establishing the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. While at Rice, Dr. Jones served as dean and taught composition and conducting. Sam and his wife Kristin relocated to Auburn, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. Since 1997 Sam has been Seattle Symphony's Composer in Residence.

His works include orchestral, operatic, choral, and chamber music, and have been performed by the country's most outstanding ensembles and musicians. The Seattle Symphony received a 2009 Grammy nomination for The Shoe Bird, based on a book by Eudora Welty, in the category of Best Musical Album for Children.

In the tradition of Peter and the Wolf, The Shoe Bird is a narrated story about a flock of feathered characters that make a fateful decision to wear shoes instead off lying, putting themselves at risk from Freddy the Cat. The Shoe Bird's engaging score features a children's choir and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Jones has received numerous awards and fellowships for his brilliant compositions through the years, distinguishing himself, his home state, and Millsaps College.