Late Ransom Middle Band Director Janie Walker Posthumously Honored With Florida Bandmasters Award

February 3, 2022

Late Ransom Middle School band director Janie Walker has been posthumously awarded the Oliver Hobbs Award by the Florida Bandmasters Association.

Walker passed away in May 2021 at the age of 47 after complications from surgery.

The Oliver Hobbs Award recognizes FBA members who have consistently done an exceptional job year after year in the position of band director. The FBA recognizes up to four band directors statewide for the award each year. Walker joins retired Tate High School band director Joe Hooten and retired Bailey Middle School band director Tim Willis as residents of Escambia County who have won the award.

Accepting the award on Walker’s behalf were Cathy McConnell, Ransom Middle orchestra director, and Angela Horne, Ransom chorus director.

Walker started her teaching career in the fall of 1997 when she became the band director at UMS Wright Preparatory School in Mobile. While living in Mobile, she played in the Mobile Pops Orchestra.

In the fall of 1999, Walker moved back to Pensacola and became the band director at Ransom Middle School. During her time at Ransom, her symphonic and jazz bands received consistent superior ratings at District Music Performance Assessments, and she had 18 students selected for participation in Florida all state bands. She also served as guest conductor for Middle School Honor Bands in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. She was selected as the Ransom Middle School Teacher of the Year for the 2020-2021 school year.

She was born March 26, 1974, in Pensacola and attended Cordova Park Elementary, Workman Middle School, and Washington High School. Walker and her family were active members of First Baptist Church in Pensacola where she was baptized and married and she served as a Children’s Camp Counselor. She also played the trumpet in the church orchestra.

Following graduation from high school in 1992 with honors, she attended the University of Alabama where she received a Bachelor of Music Education in 1997. While at Alabama she was a member of the Million Dollar Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Quota Brass Quintet and Mu Phi Epsilon. Walker and her future husband, Chris Walker, met at Alabama and they were both members of the Million Dollar Band.

Several of Walker’s former students are in teaching positions at middle school and high school band programs in the Florida Panhandle, and several former students are professional musicians.

Lee Rigdon, who taught with Walker as assistant band director, is now serving as the Ransom band director. Steven Kershaw is the assistant band director.

Comments

7 Responses to “Late Ransom Middle Band Director Janie Walker Posthumously Honored With Florida Bandmasters Award”

  1. Angela Barberi on February 4th, 2022 5:29 pm

    Janie was an exemplar band director, and yet so much more. She loved her students and poured into them so that they loved music and being part of band. She was humble while being excellent. It is fitting FMEA honor her memory.

  2. Laura Robinson on February 4th, 2022 12:24 am

    I was blessed growing up at FBCP knowing the Newbold family. Her mom & dad were my SS teachers. & Janie was a little younger than me. She was truly the sparkle in their eyes. She guided my children Emily,
    Cowboy, Andrew, & Ben as they embarked on middle
    school band. But, more importantly, by sharing her love of music she shared her Faith. She’s a beautiful soul & has touched many lives. I’m grateful for her and her sweet momma who is steadfast in her faith & love for others.

  3. Chad Robbins on February 3rd, 2022 10:14 pm

    Janie was a master teacher. Her band room was filled full of passion, love, and the highest quality musicianship. I was one of the lucky ones to have been able to watch her work many times and learn from her what it is to be an educator.

  4. Bill Slayton on February 3rd, 2022 2:35 pm

    Janie was a tremendous teacher and had a wonderful influence on thousands of students at Ransom. This is a wonderful tribute for her and others will follow

  5. Bonnie Exner on February 3rd, 2022 12:51 pm

    Janie Walker was a great band director and was loved by her students, her colleagues, her administrators and all who knew her…what a deserving tribute to an awesome person.

  6. Carl on February 3rd, 2022 7:51 am

    Bless this fine lady and family.
    If anyone ever made a difference in peoples life…here this wonderful lady is.

  7. C Massey on February 3rd, 2022 6:58 am

    Janie was a wonderful music teacher and impacted so many lives. This award is well deserved.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News