Instructors | Alabama School of Gospel Music

Faculty

Director of Instruction

Mr. Tom Powell

Tom was born into the G.T. Speer family, son of Rosa Nell Speer- Powell, who founded the gospel group the Speer Family. He, along with several others, were founding members of ASGM. Over the past forty or more years, he has spent time directing singing schools all over the southeast and participating in gospel singing conventions.

Classroom Instructor and Private Lessons

Tracey Phillips

Tracey’s love for music began at a young age of three. Her mother, Eloise, would listen as Tracey played along on the autoharp and noticed that she would change chords in the right places. Eloise then decided to start Tracey in piano lessons which she quickly accomplished and became the church accompanist at age nine.

Tracey attended numerous singing schools throughout her childhood until she started teaching. Tracey is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has been featured in numerous Gaither Homecoming Videos and worked with several Southern Gospel Artists. She received a Dove Award for her own Christmas CD in 2014, and has been nominated for Dove Awards for her work on Daywind's instrumental series.

Classroom Instructor

Dr. Lisa Powell

A native of Haleyville, Alabama, Powell spent 14 years teaching music and choir to students in grades PreK-6 in Alabama school districts and one year teaching K-12 music in Tennessee public schools. She earned her doctorate from Auburn University in 2021 and has a research interest in involving students with disabilities in music classrooms.

Classroom and Private Lesson Instructor

Eric Tippens

Mr. Tippens joined the ASGM staff in 2014 serving as a private piano and later as a classroom instructor. After attending singing schools as a teen, he went on to study and obtain a Master of Church Music degree from Lee University. Currently, Eric serves on the ministry staff as worship leader at Concord Baptist Church in Cumming, GA and gives private piano lessons. His heart is to see students of all ages discover, develop, and dedicate their musical talents and gifts as an offering to the Lord in their local church and throughout gospel music.

Private Lessons Instructor

Becky Walker (BWOK)

Mrs. Walker was born and raised in Tupelo, MS. She is a graduate of MS State University with a degree in Music Education. As she starts her 44th year of teaching, she continues to serve as the choral director at Douglas High School. Becky attends Fellowship Baptist Church where she serves as pianist for the choir. Her motto is "Success comes in cans, not CAN'Ts!"

Classroom Instructor

Jenice Fitts

Jenice grew up singing with her family in the Wedgeworth Trio. She never remembers a time when southern gospel music was not part of her life, and attended her first singing school at age 5 directed by GC Staffored. Jenice has a degree in music from Panola College in Carthage, TX, and a Masters in Education with emphasis on music from Stephen F. Austin State University. She has taught in the public school system for 30 years. Jenice has served as a faculty member for the Texas School of Gospel Music many years. Jenice has played piano and directed choir in church since a young age. Jenice and is married to Skip Fitts whom she has two sons who are both married with children.

Private Lesson Instructor

Gene McDonald

Gene's roots in gospel music run deep, having spent his childhood singing tenor with his family as they traveled throughout the midwest. In high school, he was given the opportunity to sing with Jack Campbell & The Ambassadors, and during college he attended Ben Speer's Stamps-Baxter School of Music. It was during that time that Gene joined the Plainsmen Quartet, and later went on to spend nine years with The Florida Boys. Today, Gene is a regular on the Gaither Homecoming tour, as well as performing select solo dates across the country every year.

Classroom and Private Lessons Instructor

Daryl Williams

Bio Coming Soon

Classroom Instructor

Jessica Duncan

Jessica is a native of North Georgia where her love for music began while singing in the choir at Northside Baptist Church in Roswell. She attended multiple singing schools growing up including ASGM, NGSGM, and Stamps-Baxter. These experiences played an important role in shaping her musicianship and passion for teaching. She attended Shorter College where she obtained her her Bachelor of Music Education and later her Masters degree at Georgia State University. Currently, Jessica teaches private piano/voice lessons and serves remotely as Head of Educational Development for a Nashville-area music academy. For Jessica, teaching music is about more than learning notes and technique—it is about building confidence, developing musicianship, and helping each student discover the joy of making music.