Libbie Kent is the Chair of the Music Department at Southwestern College. Besides overseeing the program, Ms. Kent teaches music theory, conducts instrumental ensembles and works with the praise bands on campus. For the academic year 2005-2006, Ms. Kent conducted Southwestern College’s musical productions, Swingtime Café and She Loves Me. Ms. Kent taught previously at Grand Canyon University and throughout the Maricopa Community College System. She is active as composer, conductor and performer.

While a graduate student at Arizona State University, Ms. Kent was awarded a Harris National Fellowship, a federal program selecting 128 masters/doctoral students in the sciences. Submitting compositions and documentation arguing the level of mastery was similar between a degree in physics and a degree in Music Composition, Ms. Kent was awarded a full Fellowship. Composed while a student, her symphonic work, Trilithon was performed at Gammage Auditorium after winning ASU’s Concerto Competition Composer’s prize. It was also selected for the “New Artists Series” at Merkin Concert Hall in New York.

An eclectic musician, Ms. Kent composes works in a variety of venues. Currently running are electronic sound tracks for Cox Cable’s Horses Now and The Welcome Home Show. Original compositions have been performed locally by the ASU Symphony Orchestra, at Grand Canyon University, various community colleges, at ASTA and MENC conferences and valley churches. National performances include Bavarde and Masterworks Summer Music Festivals, and Los Angeles Chapter of Women in Film. Her ballet, Three Stones, commissioned by DeVere Dance Company, was performed at Herberger Theater in collaboration with Ballet Arizona.

Ms. Kent has performed violin with Symphony of the West Valley and Lyric Opera Theater, and recorded annually for many years at WTBTS headquarters in New York City. She has served in Music Ministry at First Baptist Church of Tempe (Instrumental Director), and Grace Community Church of Tempe (Choir and Orchestra Conductor).

In 2006 Ms. Kent published as editor two volumes of Integrated Music Theory: A Collection of Music Theory Materials, targeted for music theory sequences at colleges such as Southwestern College.

Ms. Kent is eternally grateful for the Lord Jesus Christ’s saving grace. She has three grown children, four grandchildren, two dogs…fish… birds…frogs…she gardens, paints and loves to read.

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