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Dr. Elaine Atkins Harriss, Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee at Martin, is a pianist, flutist, and early childhood music specialist. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Harriss teaches applied piano and flute and directs both the UTM Piano Ensemble and the UTM Flute Choir. In addition she is chair of the UTM Pre-College Piano Competition and coordinator of the annual Piano Teacher Workshop. She has performed piano concertos with two orchestras, is well-known for her accompanying and has extensive piano duo, duet, and eight-hand experience with her partner Allison Nelson. Elaine's flute performing includes 25 years as principal flutist with area orchestras ( Paducah, KY and Jackson, TN), 16 years of chamber work with the University Trio, many solo recitals, and the premier of Sam Ewell's Ramble for Flute and String Orchestra.
To serve the musical needs of the community, Dr. Harriss maintains a pre-college piano and flute studio, and for 18 years directed Kindermusik of Martin which served over 1,500 children birth through age seven. She was Director of Educational Standards and Professional Development for Kindermusik International of Greensboro, N.C., for many years and served as president of the International Kindermusik Educators Association from 1999-2003.
Dr. Harriss has taught over 50 workshops on five continents and has made presentations at meetings and conventions of the National Piano Pedagogy Conference, the Music Educators National Conference, the Kindermusik Educators Association, the Australian Kindermusik Educators Association, Tennessee Music Teachers Association, and the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. Her college and pre-college students have won many state honors and she was named the Tennessee Music Teacher of the Year by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association.
Dr. Harriss is currently president of the Martin Area Music Teachers Association, chairman of the High School Piano Auditions for the Tennessee Music Teachers Association, a member of the International Kindermusik Educators Association executive board, advisor to UTM's Sigma Alpha Iota chapter (music fraternity for women), an active member and past president of NFMC's Martin Philharmonic Music Guild, and a member of the Martin Beautiful Committee and the Martin Historic Zoning Commission.
She and her husband Ernie Harriss II have two sons and a daughter-in-law, Ernie Harriss III and Edward and Elana Harriss. Elaine is an elder in Trinity Presbyterian Church.