By Kirsten Johnson
Copy Editor

Dr. Janita Byars is the new UNCP Music Department Chair, following past Department Chair, Dr. George Walter. The department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

As the new department chair and the director of graduate studies, Byars is now working to establish the newly formed graduate program for music majors.

The new program began last year and has brought an astonishing 13 majors in the past 14 months. In developing the new graduate program, Byars also ran an area conference to recruit graduate students to the school.

Byars is also in the process of introducing a new student portfolio project deemed for seniors to keep records of their work and progress over their academic careers.

Before coming to UNCP 14 months ago, Byars was the director of Art in the Rochester, NY public city school system.

“I hope what I teach they can take out into the world of music and use it,” Byars said.

Byars received her B.S. in Music focusing on Woodwinds from Indiana University. She went on to earn her first masters from the Manhattan School of Music, her doctorate in Music Education from
Columbia University in 1972 and finally her second masters in administration from Pace University.

Byars has been exposed to music a vast majority of her life. She began playing the clarinet in the 5th grade and has perfected her skills with the instrument since then.

Inspired by her childhood music teacher, Byars decided to pursue music as a profession and went on to become a master clarinetist in the American Symphony Orchestra from 1963-1968 under the direction of Leopold Stokowski.

“Being a little kid from Texas playing at Carnegie Hall, I was so overwhelmed,” she said. “When the opportunity opened up, I was ready.”

Having played in this famous orchestra for five years, Byars certainly has the skill and know-how to make the music depart-ment a great one. She tries to teach her students the importance of quality in their work. She tells her students to subscribe to mastery learning and always gives feedback in her classes.

“I don’t give a 60 and say you passed, I give it and say you have to fix it.” Byars said.

In the future, Byars hopes to see the department’s Strings program grow and expand the Music Business and Industry program to include teaching certification in graduate studies.