Alumni

CONNIE CRUZE BULL

Connie Cruze Bull, Knoxville, TN. is a third generation graduate of Carter High School in Strawberry Plains, TN. and graduated Carson-Newman College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Music Education with certifications in K-12 choral music and a certification in Spanish education. She won the composition competition in ‘86 and ’88 which was sponsored by Delta Omicron. Connie was also the only student member of Delta Omicron in the history of Carson-Newman’s Lyric Theatre to conduct the orchestra in their production of South Pacific in 1986.

Upon graduating from Carson-Newman, Connie taught Spanish for a year at Jefferson County High School before going on to seminary studies. At the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, she earned a Master of Divinity in Communications (1992) and a Master of Church Music degree (1993). Following her graduate studies, Connie taught public school music for 6 years, private lessons in voice, piano, flute, guitar, and harp, conducted the Knoxville Area Homeschool Highschool Concert Choir for 6 years, and served as Minister of Music at the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, TN for four years where she was ordained in 2004. In 2006, she moved with her family to Virginia and taught adjunctly in the Spanish and Music departments there for one year. Currently, she teaches at Carson-Newman College as an Adjunct Professor of Music (2007-present) and directs the Carson-Newman Carillon Ringers handbell ensemble. She has taken seven summer mission trips between 1991 and 2007 as a music clinician at an annual music camp in Haiti at the Christian University of Northern Haiti. Each camp, she spends the two weeks teaching music theory, flute, choral techniques, band, and conducting the mass choir. She also served as Choral Camp Director of Carson-Newman’s Music Camp from 2000-2006. Connie is also pursuing a Doctorate in Worship Studies from the Institute of Worship Studies in Orange Park, Florida.

Connie's parents are Marsha Cruze and the late Bill Cruze of Knoxville, TN. Connie married Carson-Newman alum Dr. Bradley W. Bull in 1988, who is now Assistant Professor of Counseling at Carson-Newman. They have a daughter, Delyn, 11, and a son, John-Clarke, 6.

"Being in Delta Omicron helped me conquer my recurring stage fright, a condition that I brought with me to Carson-Newman. My favorite memory involves a road-trip with Alpha Gamma to the University of Kentucky to share in a concert of combined chapters. As we walked through the halls to the performance area, I could hear people whisper with awe, “There they are. That’s Alpha Gamma.” I was able to play a Beethoven’s Marche Funebre on that concert in memory of a friend of ours who had been killed in a winter-related car accident. I was able to honor her memory without a paralyzing case of the nerves because of the nurturing friendships along the way in Delta Omicron.”

LYNN BAKER

Lynn Baker, New York, NY. received the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Carson-Newman College in 1976. As a collegiate member of Alpha Gamma chapter, she served as Chapter Historian, Secretary, and President. Lynn continued her education by attending Hardin-Simmons University where she earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance; she also attended The Julliard School earning her Master of Music in Accompanying.

Lynn is currently the Assistant Conductor of the New York City Opera in New York, NY. She is also a coach for Renata Scotto Opera Academy (New York, NY) as well as Bard Music Festival (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY). She is also a freelance collaborative recital pianist and opera coach.

Lynn lives in the interesting Harlem neighborhood in Manhattan with her husband, Ken Campbell and their dog, Petey. The couple enjoys all that New York has to offer--particularly dining out, dancing and attending the theater as often as possible.

"DO was a wonderful bonding and service opportunity for all of us; Ann Jones held us to a high standard of efficiency and attention. Her dedication to the precepts of DO, then and now, has been a model for me. I am embarrassed to remember that I couldn't get my historian reports in on time. But I learned a lesson even from that; mundane as it sounds, that's one of the reasons that participation in such organizations is valuable for young people. Understanding the responsibility for and to a community or cause larger than one's self constitutes a giant step into adulthood."

LESLIE MASSENGILL CUTSHAW

Leslie Massengill Cutshaw, Knoxvile, TN, received the Bachelor of Music in Applied Voice from Carson-Newman College in 1986. As a member of Alpha Gamma chapter, she served as Chapter Secretary as a junior and Music Advisor as a Senior. She was the recipient of the Star of Delta Omicron her senior year.

Leslie began a career in radio in 1988 at a small Southern Gospel AM station and continued in various radio formats until 1998, working on the air and in various other capacities, most notably in copywriting and production. She still does some freelance work for a small non-commercial FM station in Loudon. Leslie then began working in television at Knoxville's Fox 43 in 1994 as a master control operator. From 2001 until the present she is a Network Operations Technician for Scripps Networks in Knoxville.

Leslie's musical activities, since graduation, have included various church choirs and ensemble. She has also had intermittent activity with the Knoxville Choral Society around her busy schedule.

Leslie has been married to Jeffrey L. Cutshaw since June 21, 1986

ANGELA HOLDER

Dr. Angela Easterday Holder, Knoxville, TN. graduated from Powell High School then Carson-Newman College in 1989 with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. As a collegiate member of Alpha Gamma, Angela served as Chaplain ('86-'87), 2nd Vice President ('87-'88), and 1st Vice President ('88-'89). She then became a member of the Knoxville Alumni Chapter from 1989-1991.

Upon graduating from Carson-Newman, Angela earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1991, followed by a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1995. Following her graduate studies, she taught at Georgetown College from 1995-2003 where she was Chapter Adviser of the Delta Delta Chapter from 1996-2003. Angela currently teaches at Carson-Newman College as an Associate Professor of Music (2003-present) and the Chapter Faculty Sponsor of the Alpha Gamma Chapter (2004-present).

Angela's parents are Jack and Carol Easterday of Powell, TN. She married Timothy Holder in 2002, who is now an Assistant Professor of History at Walters State Community College.

"My most memorable moment was when my roommate (Jane Corbin Williams
'89) led a Wedding Musicale for the chapter! Several of us got to dress
up in wedding gowns and model them while others performed wedding music!
This was very creative, fun, and A LOT of work!!! Delta Omicron was always fun! There are lots of memories and many cherished friendships."

CAROL JAMISON

Carol Bibb Jamison retired from teaching from Middle Tennessee State University in 2005, but she still serves as Omicron Psi’s Chapter Adviser. She maintains a piano studio at home and is currently busy with family activities. Carol received her BM degree in Piano Performance from Carson-Newman College and her MM degree from the University of Memphis where she was a Suzuki Piano Teacher. She is active in the Middle Tennessee Music Teachers Association, and she is a national certified teacher of music through the Music Teachers National Association. She is also pianist at Calvary Baptist Church. She is married to dentist Benjamin Jamison, and they have two children, Benjamin who is 23 and Audrey who is 14. Carol is an avid tennis player and is playing in the Nashville Area League again after 25 years.

JONNY RAMSEY

Dr. Jonny H. Ramsey, Denton, TN. received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Carson-Newman College in 1970 and Master of Arts and Ph.D. Degrees in Music Education from the University of Iowa. She also has completed post-doctoral course work at The University of San Antonio, San Antonio College, and Penn State University. She holds Texas All-Level Music Certification for grades kindergarten through twelve and Orff Certification--Levels I and II. She has over 30 years of teaching experience in elementary music in Virginia and Texas. Between 1979 and 1983, she served as Co-Coordinator for the Arts in Education Program of Pennsylvania's Intermediate Unit 10. From 1989 to 1996, she was Adjunct Instructor for Elementary Music Education at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Ramsey was initiated into Alpha Gamma chapter at Carson-Newman College in 1967 and served as Chapter President during 1969-70, receiving the Senior Honor Pin that year. She served as Province President for Nu Province from 1996 to 2000 and as Alumni Area Chair for Southeastern and Western Texas from 2000-2003. She was National Music Adviser from 2000-2003 and has been International President since 2003.

Dr. Ramsey is a flutist. She currently teaches elementary music to over 650 students in grades K through 5 at Ginnings Elementary School in Denton, Texas and plays in her church hand bell ensemble. She is married to Dr. Darhyl S. Ramsey, Professor of Music Education at the University of North Texas, who is also a Carson-Newman College graduate.

JULIE WRIGHT

Mrs. Julie Hensley Wright, Jefferson City, TN. graduated from Carson-Newman College in 1993 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education, keyboard emphasis. As a collegiate member of Alpha Gamma, Julie served the chapter ad Director of Publicity and Music Adviser. She also was awarded the Star of D.O. for two consecutive years, as well as the Senior Honor Pin. She is the current Executive Secretary of Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity.

Following graduate studies at the University of Louisville and the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and serving as Zeta North Province President, Julie returned to Carson-Newman as its Director of
the Preparatory School of Music in 1997.

Since 1993, Julie has taught private piano lessons and currently operates a studio in Jefferson City, TN. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, was the Smokey Mountain Music Teachers Association (SMMTA) Teacher of the Year for 2001, and gained MTNA certification in piano pedagogy in December 2001. She also serves as Music Director of Nance's Grove Baptist Church in New Market, TN and has been Executive Secretary of Delta Omicron since 1997. Julie is married to Thomas Wright and resides in Jefferson City, TN.