Sean Jones was already in school at Shelton State Community College, but his goal was to transfer to the University of Montevallo to pursue numerous opportunities in the award-winning Music Department.
“I transferred in 2019 after receiving my associate’s degree,” the Greensboro native said. “I was here right before COVID got here. I still had a great time though.”
He transferred on a Music Department Scholarship, the Dr. Betty Boswell Scholarship, the ContinuUM Scholarship, the Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship and the Transfer Minority Scholarship. He also works in the Music Department as a choral librarian, which helps him locate scholarship opportunities.
He is a member of the University of Montevallo Concert Choir, Opera Ensemble, Pep Band, a member of the National Association for Music Education and is president of the UM chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
What initially drew him to UM was when he got to play with the University’s Honor Band in 2016.
“I got to play my instrument with them, meet wonderful people and see how beautiful the campus was,” he said. “When I walked on the bricks and saw how beautiful it was, I said I had to come here.
“The plan was to go to community college and then come here. This is my dream school and I’m so glad to be here with the scholarships I needed to make that dream happen.”
He said scholarships have been vital to his UM education and music career.
“With the career path I’m going in, it would have been difficult to pay off massive loans,” he said. “My family couldn’t help in any major way. I’m extremely appreciative of the scholarships I’ve received. I haven’t had to worry about money so much that it’s gotten in the way of me focusing on my classes.”
“I’m appreciative of donors funding scholarships that are making a massive difference in my life. There are a lot of students here who need just as much help as I’ve needed. Because of donors, I’ve been able to work with some of the best teachers and professors in my field, and I can move forward into the future of my career because of the education I’ve received here.”
Jones, who’s majoring in choral music, said he’s made the most prominent strides in his career at UM. He’s gone to music competitions and brought back the first-place prize at the annual Alabama chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. Two years ago, he brought back first place in the musical theatre division and third place in the division of the Fourth Year Tenor and Bass Voices for that same competition.
“Montevallo is a home away from home. I don’t get homesick because I feel like I’ve found my place here. The best memories I have are of traveling with the choir, and with my friends on the way to tours. Singing in amazing venues like the cathedral for the American Choral Directors Competition. Our choir is so amazing that we’re invited to sing at events all the time.”
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