The Florida Vocal Association has recognized the contributions of Dr. Larry Woods Reed for its 2022 FVA Roll of Distinction Award.
The FVA Roll of Distinction recognizes teachers no longer active in the classroom who have:
- Demonstrated excellence in the teaching of music and are renowned in the area of vocal and choral music education;
- Demonstrated noteworthy contributions through dedication and service to Florida’s vocal music education, students and their community.
Larry Woods Reed, a native of South Carolina, has a career of more than 50 years in music education, choral music methods, conducting and teacher education. From early childhood he was active in choirs both at church and in the public schools. This led him to pursue a career in choral music and music education.
He attended Mars Hill Junior college, graduating from Furman University with a BA in Music Education- Choral emphasis. From there he began his teaching career in the Greenville, SC schools, even before completing his student teaching. After three years there he moved to Baltimore City Schools for a seven-year tenure of K-12 choral teaching, including conducting the All-City Honor Jr. High choir.
His next opportunity was the P. K. Yonge Lab School at the University of Florida, Gainesville, where he again taught K-12 music and conducted 3 choirs.
After that 3-year experience, he accepted a graduate assistantship at Columbia University, Teachers College. During a three-year period he completed degree requirements for the MA, Med and EdD. His dissertation was a History of the Music Department at Teachers College,, which is like the history of Music Education in America, writ small.
Built on these academic successes, he and his wife, Darlene, accepted positions at Campbellsville University, Kentucky. During that seven-year stint, Reed rebuilt the Music Department, added faculty and moved to a new facility, increasing enrollment significantly. He conducted the Chorale for those years, including extensive tours of the East and Mid-West.
Due to family health circumstances, he left Campbellsville and relocated in Pensacola Florida, taking positions in middle and high school choral programs. During these years he accepted adjunct positions at Pensacola Junior College and the University of West Florida.
At UWF he began a 25-year teaching assignment in music education and choral music methods. His duties included student teacher preparation and supervision. Eventually he was recognized by the University President for his service and was given the rank of Faculty Associate.
In 2020, he and his wife retired from UWF, where she had served as staff accompanist.
