Jerry A. Bracey, M.M.E.

Jerry Alexander Bracey, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Education degrees from Jackson State University. Further studies were done at Northeastern Louisiana University in Monroe, Louisiana and at the Nice Academic Internationale D'Ete in Nice, France. While abroad in Europe Mr. Bracey studied conducting with Pierre Dervaux, Ferhand Quaptrocchi and viola with Christos Michalakakos. During his studies at Northeastern Louisiana University, he studied with Joseph Cleveland, a student of William Primrose.

He was the first African American to become a member of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra of Jackson, Mississippi. He also performed with the Monroe Symphony, Greenville Symphony, and South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra as well as with the Ruston Civic Orchestra and the Opera/South Orchestra.

Mr. Bracey has served as Director of Bands in the Tensas Parish Public Schools, Jackson Public School District, and Dougherty County School System. Under his guidance and experience their Jazz Ensembles, Concert Bands, and Marching Bands received numerous awards and recognition on the local, state, and national level. He was the founder and conductor of the Arkansas-Louisiana-Mississippi Chamber Orchestra. He has served as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for the Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Virginia areas. Mr. Bracey is presently Assistant Professor of Music, Assistant Director of Bands, Jazz Ensemble Director, and Conductor of the Hampton University Chamber Orchestra.