Mark Bailey, conductor of the Lee University Symphonic Band, is Professor of Music at Lee University and holds the doctorate in Music Education from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Bailey is presently in his 21st year as conductor of Symphonic Band. Bailey combines his advanced training with the nation’s best wind conductors (Eugene Corporon, North Texas University, Myron Welch, University of Iowa, and Terrance Milligan, The University of Cincinnati) with his knowledge of how to utilize music for worship and praise to develop a unique combination of outstanding wind literature with arrangements that truly point the listener to Christ. Bailey’s expertise in this area is evidenced by his election as president of the Christian Instrumentalists and Directors Association in 2002. He served as the director of the Lee University Campus Choir during the 2007-2008 school year, while still conducting the Symphonic Band, after the untimely death of Dr. David Horton, who had successfully directed that ensemble for 25 years. Bailey teaches graduate courses, instrumental music education methods classes, applied conducting, church music, and music theory. He is also the former part time worship arts pastor at Mt. Olive Ministries in Cleveland, Tenn., where he supervised a 50-voice choir, 20-piece church orchestra, and worship leaders and musicians. Bailey is presently in this 23rd year of teaching at Lee University.

Andrea Dismukes has made numerous appearances in opera, oratorio, chamber music and traditional solo recital venues. With the Opera Theatre of the University of Alabama, Dismukes performed the roles of Madame Flora (Baba) in Menotti’s The Medium, Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen, the second dame in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Charlotte in Massenet’s Werther. As winner of the Concerto/Aria Competition, she performed with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra of the University of Alabama. She has performed in master classes for mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson and Metropolitan Opera soprano Wendy White.

Actively involved in music in the area, Dismukes performs regularly with the Choral Arts of Chattanooga, recently having performed the role of Mary in Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity. She sings with the Jeff Rouéche Chorale of Chattanooga, performing solos in the Christmas Eve Mass held at First Cumberland Presbyterian of Chattanooga each Christmas.

Her choral and solo experience includes performances of Durufle’s Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah, as well as numerous Bach cantatas and Mozart masses. Highlights include a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Bulgarian Radio Symphony in Sofia, Bulgaria and spending part of a summer with the Berkshire Choral Festival, rehearsing daily and performing at the Canterbury and Rochester Cathedrals. In the fall of 2005, Dismukes and colleague Tony Deaton premiered David Holsinger’s Songs of This War, a chamber piece for mezzo-soprano and baritone, conducted by the composer.

Dismukes has worked with such reputable conductors as John Rutter, Dr. Sandra Willetts, Dr. Gerald Welker, Dr. George Mabry, Dr. Lonnie McCalister, Dr. David Holsinger and Dr. William R. Green.

Dismukes received her Bachelor of Music Education from Lee, having studied privately with Virginia Horton, soprano. At Austin Peay State University, she studied with Dr. Sharon Mabry, mezzo-soprano, a featured writer for the NATS Journal. While attending the University of Alabama, Dismukes studied voice with Dr. Susan Fleming, mezzo-soprano.

Equally comfortable performing repertoire from the musical theater, jazz, and gospel traditions, she was one of six finalists in the American Traditions Competition for Singers at the Savannah Onstage International Arts Festival and was featured on Georgia Public Television. The Dismukes-Deaton duo performed a concert entitled “Best of Broadway” and raised over $3000 to benefit the local Habitat for Humanity.

Dismukes has served in Lee University’s School of Music since 1992. From 1993-1999, she conducted the women’s chorus Ladies of Lee, which toured Israel, five Abaco Islands of the Bahamas and 27 states of the U.S., as well as produced four recordings. The Ladies of Lee performed annually for the Biltmore Estate Candlelight Christmas Evenings in Asheville, N.C.

Serving as chair of the Department of Vocal Music from 2001-2005, Dismukes was responsible for building a highly qualified and experienced voice faculty. She assisted in the development of two new performance degree programs—the Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and the Master of Music in Vocal Performance. She also assisted in the preparation of the NASM review and site visit (2003-2004) that resulted in the full accreditation of the School of Music. She served as the chair of the Department of Music Performance for the 2013-2014 school year.

Dismukes currently teaches diction for voice majors (English, Italian, German, French), maintains a sizable private voice studio, and continues to pursue performance and ministry opportunities.