Renee Collins

Piano/Viola

Dr. Beatrice Renee Collins-Williams is the founding Director of the Valley Conservatory. Since its inception in 1998, the Valley Conservatory has exposed hundreds of young people in the Huntsville/Madison County community from elementary through college age to the arts.

Her experiences cross several disciplines that include conducting, teaching and performing. As a conductor, she has directed several orchestras across the country including the Colorado Symphony, Women’s Philharmonic (San Francisco), Denver Young Artists Orchestra, the Huntsville Youth Orchestra, Alabama All-State Reading Orchestra, West Tennessee All-State Orchestra, Oakwood College Symphony, Michigan State University Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra and members of the Aspen School of Music Festival Orchestra, where she was a conducting scholarship recipient. During her Doctoral studies at Michigan State University, she conducted the Michigan State University Symphony and Chamber orchestras in various theater performances, served as a vocal director for several opera/musical theater productions, and presented the first concert of symphonic music by composers of African American descent.

In addition to her conducting experiences, Dr. Collins has performed with several orchestras including the Greeley Philharmonic, Midland Symphony Orchestra and Denver Young Artist Orchestra, where she was a member of the viola section. She has taught music education on all levels; applied piano and viola on the college level; and has worked in administration at Michigan State University where she served as an academic advisor to undergraduate students for the College of Arts and Letters. Dr. Collins holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Piano Performance from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University. Her biography is listed in the International Who’s Who in Music.