East Central Community College’s Fine Arts Department Chair Mandy Quinn was recently announced as the recipient of the Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher Award.

Quinn, who also serves as assistant band director and director of percussion studies, will present a special program at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 21, in the Carson Band Hall on ECCC’s campus in Decatur. The event is free to attend and open to the public.

Quinn’s performance, titled “Evolution of Percussion: The Historical, Cultural, and Customary Impact of Percussion Arts,” will discuss how percussion has evolved over time while maintaining aspects of its origin.

“We will explore the evolution of percussion and how it has impacted the percussive arts in the musical world,” said Quinn. “The program will give the audience insight into some of the different instruments within the percussion family by performing different repertoire and discussing the many aspects of the instruments.”

Along with the presentation, guests will hear remarks from East Central President Brent Gregory, Executive Vice President David Case and Humanities Council representative John Spann.

Quinn, originally from north Alabama, graduated from Muscle Shoals High School before completing a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education from the University of North Alabama. She went on to earn a master’s degree in percussion performance and conducting from the University of Central Florida and is working on her Doctor of Arts in music from William Carey University. She has performed with many world-renowned ensembles such as The Cadets, Carolina Crown, Capital Regiment, Gateway Percussion, and Aimachi from Nagoya, Japan. She is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, where she serves on the Education Committee, and is vice president of the Mississippi Percussive Arts Society. She has had articles published in “Rhythm! Scene,” a Percussion Arts Society publication. She is endorsed by Innovative Percussion.

Quinn is married to Nathan Robertson and has two children, Elora and David James.