Wrenda Fuller and Dr. Joseph Trivette
• Dr. Joseph Trivette is the holder of the Albert Endowed Chair of Music at Southwest Virginia Community College in Richlands, Va. He teaches music theory, music history, music appreciation, class piano, piano and instrumental lessons, and jazz improvisation. Ensembles under his direction include the SWCC Community Chorus, SWCC Jazz Ensemble/Combo, and Southwest Virginia Children's Choir.
Successful programs established under his leadership include the Tuesday Evening Piano Academy (TEPA), SWCC Band Day, and the Jazz-America's Music program. Dr. Trivette also implements the SWCC Recital Series and performs solo and duo/trio piano recitals. He frequently serves as conductor/accompanist for various all-county and all-district festivals and is an active church musician. His most recent accomplishment was the formation of the SWCC Chamber Music Institute, which provides free private lessons to area high school students and is partially funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Dr. Trivette received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award for superior Community College teaching in 2003. He was named the 2006-2008 Virginia Community College System Chancellor's Commonwealth Professor, as well as the 2008 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Outstanding Faculty Nominee from Southwest Virginia Community College. He was also honored with the 2008 Virginia Community Colleges Association Faculty Showcase award.
He earned his Ph.D. in Music Education (Piano Pedagogy Emphasis) through Florida State University. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Performance as well as a Master's Degree in Piano Performance from Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.
• Wrenda Fuller, a retired public school music/government teacher, is co-founder and coordinator of the Southwest Virginia Children's Choir and serves as their accompanist. During her 30-year tenure as a teacher, she served as District VII chairman and regularly accompanied District VII choirs (Editor's Note: In the regional breakdown of the Virginia Music Educators Association, District VII includes the region from Pulaski County to Bristol to Bland County). In the summer of 2005, Fuller founded MAD (SWCC's Summer Music, Art, and Drama Camp) as an offshoot of the Children's Choir. Each year the camp hosts clinicians who instruct approximately 100 children in grades 2-9.
Fuller is currently Music Director of the Lebanon Memorial United Methodist Church. She received her B.A. in music and history from Dakota Wesleyan University and her M.A. in government from the University of Virginia.
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