Millennium Magazine_2ndEd

246 MILLENNIUM-SECOND EDITION W ith four decades of professional experience, Dr. George K. Mellott has been a professor emeritus of music at Southern Illinois University since 1994, having previously served as an assistant and full professor at the university between 1964 and 1994. Prior to these roles, he was an assistant professor of music at the University of the Cumberlands from 1963 to 1964, and a band director in the Ramsey School District in Illinois from 1954 to 1955. In addition to being a composer of various musical works, Dr. Mellott served as a lieutenant in the United States Air Force between 1955 and 1960. Thereafter, he ascended through the ranks to become lieutenant colonel and command pilot with the Air National Guard in Iowa, Tennessee and Illinois, where he flew fighter aircraft until he retired in 1978. Alongside his primary endeavors in academia, Dr. Mellott has performed clarinet recitals at the Oklahoma University Clarinet Symposium and the International Clarinet Association, as well as a solo clarinet performance behind famed Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti in St. Louis. The principal clarinetist for the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra between 1964 and 1997, he has also played classical and jazz clarinet and saxophone with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and after retirement with the Pueblo Symphony in Colorado. Dr. Mellott holds a BS and MS in education from Eastern Illinois University, as well as an MFA and PhD from the University of Iowa. Interested in performing music from an early age, he has studied under Earl Boyd, Eugene Rousseau, Donald Sinta, Andrew Crisanti, Mitchell Lurie, George Silfies, Keith McCarty and Eddie Daniels. He most directly attributes his success to George S. Westcott, his former high school band director who became like a father to him. Dr. Mellott was named a Distinguished Alumni Performer by the department of music at Eastern Illinois University in 1978. However, the highlight of his career was meeting and marrying his wife, the former Elecive Blair. GEORGE K. MELLOTT, PHD PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF MUSIC Southern Illinois University Walsenburg, CO