Dr. Blackmore Receives Outstanding Adjunct Award
East Central College music adjunct instructor Dr. Lisa Blackmore recently received a Missouri Community College Association Adjunct Faculty Award.
Blackmore teaches Music History, World Music and trumpet lessons at ECC. She also teaches at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri Baptist University, and plays with the St. Louis Wind Symphony, Compton Heights Band, and many other ensembles.
She is highly respected within higher education institutions and the region’s music community, according to those who nominated her for the MCCA award.
“Dr. Blackmore is a talented artist and a dedicated teacher. She epitomizes excellence as a university professor,” the nomination reads. “She always goes above and beyond to give herself to her students, her colleagues, and the community.
“She fosters positivity, inspiration, and professionalism among those she works with. She serves the college and her students with uncompromising integrity. Her dedication and commitment to her students is exemplary.”
Blackmore regularly attends ECC’s Music Department evening concerts to support her colleagues and her students.
One example of her commitment to educating the next generation is her involvement in the ECC Instrument Petting Zoo Project, which features hands-on experiences with real instruments. Through the project, Blackmore performs and demonstrates instruments for area school children.
“Her technique of introducing the horn instruments by blowing through a seashell demonstrates her ability to immediately engage her student’s attention and make learning music fun.”
A former student testified to the impact Blackmore had on her higher education and life when she said:
“Dr. Blackmore pushed me to be the best I could be, holding me to a high standard of scholarship at the community college I attended, while at the same time always being there with any help she could give.
“She saw me as an individual and encouraged me not to just settle for being average. That prepared me well for my transfer to UMSL (University of Missouri-St. Louis) later,” the student added. “Even now, in a career role as a music school director, I value her professional input, and am privileged to call her both former professor and friend.”
The MCCA conference was held Nov. 10-12 in Branson.