Alicia W. Walker is Associate Director of Choral Studies at the University of South Carolina, where she directs the University Chorus, the USC Men’s Chorus, teaches undergraduate Conducting and Choral Methods, and supervises student teachers. At the graduate level, she teaches courses in Conducting, Music Education, and Sacred Music. She holds degrees from Florida State University (B.M.E.), the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.C.M.), and the University of Georgia (D.M.A.). An experienced music educator, Dr. Walker taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in Florida and Georgia prior to joining the music education faculty at the University of Georgia.  She was a 2013 Teaching Fellow in USC’s Center for Teaching Excellence in the area of Service Learning.  Recently, Dr. Walker has taught and conducted in St. Lucia and South Africa, and in 2015 she made her conducting debut at Carnegie Hall.  She maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator.  Her research interests include the life and music of Herbert Howells, as well as the effectiveness of international service-learning experiences for teacher preparation.

In addition, Dr. Walker is currently President of Southern Division ACDA (American Choral Directors Association. A long-time church musician, she was the first national leadership team coordinator for Polyphony, an organization for pastoral musicians, and she served as a committee chair for the 2010 hymnal, Celebrating Grace.  Her commitment to mentoring has prompted Dr. Walker to found “Facets,” a leadership retreat for women conductors.