Debra Atkinson received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music Education with Choral Emphasis from Delta State University. She received a Doctor of Arts in Music Education with Choral Emphasis from the University of Mississippi.
In 2006 she became Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music Education at Mississippi University for Women. In 2011 she became the Director of Choral Activities and Instructor of Music at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gulfport. After retiring in May of 2021, she and her husband moved to Oxford to be closer to children and grandchildren.
Believing in community involvement, Debra has served as accompanist and choral director for numerous choral and theater groups throughout her career. In her hometown of Greenwood, she was musical director and accompanist for many Greenwood Little Theater productions. She was also director of a women’s community choir for 20 years. In Columbus, she was on the Board of the Columbus Girl Choir and the Columbus Arts Council. While on the Coast, she was the accompanist for the USM Gulf Coast Civic Chorale and musical director for Center Stage Theater. After moving to Oxford, she was accompanist and director of the Oxford Children’s Chorus.
Debra has been a church musician for over 40 years and is now the organist for All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Tupelo. She is an adjunct instructor in the music department at the University of Mississippi, as a collaborative pianist and class piano instructor.
Benton Donahue Accompanist
Benton Donahue is a regular collaborative pianist and conductor for all-superior choirs notably performing at choral concerts, contests, and ceremonial events. He is studying at the University of Mississippi in pursuit of his undergraduate degree in music education with a vocal emphasis. At UM, he is the recipient of the Mary Donnelly Haskell music scholarship through the Ole Miss Women’s Council, an undergraduate assistant for the Living Music Resource, and he works in the Music Department office as the Communications Assistant for projects and events.
Benton is very active within the Ole Miss Choral Department, singing and playing for several of their ensembles. He serves as rehearsal pianist for Men’s Glee and as a collaborative pianist for Women’s Glee. He is also a member of the Ole Miss ACDA Student Chapter, of which he serves as Vice President.
Benton was born and raised in Madison, MS where he led a musical-centered life both on stage and within the community. He works closely with the Center Players Community Theatre as music director and rehearsal pianist for their productions. Since moving to Oxford, MS he has been serving as a scholarship singer at Oxford-University United Methodist Church, secured his American Guild of Organists membership, and is in the voice studio of Dr. Jos Milton. He has been playing the piano for eight years with lessons from Jan Bruening, Mary Leigh Ochoa, and Dr. Ian Hominick.
