Beth McGinnis is Associate Professor of Musicology at Samford University, where she was honored to receive the 2021-2022 Buchanan Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching. She is Organist at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, where she met her future husband in the college Sunday School class in 1987. Beth’s podcast Hear in Alabama  explores the rich musical cultures of her home state. She has developed partnerships with the Perry County school bands, the Mt. Gilead Scholastic and Artistic Institute in Coy, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and the Alabama School for the Blind. As an accompanist her performing credits include Carnegie Hall, Santo Spirito in Florence, the Vienna Konzerthaus and Palais Ferstel, and Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Center. She has published articles on music and the extra-musical, and biographical articles for the New Grove Dictionary of American Music.  She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano from Samford University, a Master of Music in Musicology from Texas Christian University, and a PhD in Musicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Beth is also a certified yoga instructor. Her husband Scott teaches in the Samford Department of Biblical and Religious Studies. Together with their son William and daughter Kate, they are trying to visit as many national parks as possible.

Degrees and Certifications

• PhD, Musicology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2003
• MA, Musicology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1999
• MM, Texas Christian University, 1995
• BM, Piano Performance, Samford University, 1991

Check out her website:  www.hearinalabama.com