An Alabama native, Valerie Reese Harris is currently a professor of music and Director of Choirs at Miles College. Before securing the position in 2016, she earned a BA and excelled as a classical pianist at the prestigious University of Montevallo (Montevallo, AL), where she was quickly recognized and offered the position as university accompanist after graduation. Valerie also earned a MA with Distinction in Music and Worship from Liberty University.

Valerie’s musical partnerships with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Tuskegee University, Alabama A&M University, Birmingham-Southern College, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a host of other professional music forums in teaching and accompaniment continue to grow. She has also worked with renowned arranger and conductor Henry Panion III by serving as choral director for several projects he has authored. April 2017, Valerie partnered with Maestro Stacey V. Gibbs as co-composer and accompanist. This composition, Freedom, had its world premiere on the stage of Carnegie Hall where she was also the featured pianist.

Professor Harris has served several churches as Minister of Music with duties ranging from conductor, pianist and coordinator of music and worship ministries. As the Director of the Miles College Choir, she has strengthened its program by growing its membership and diversifying the repertoire. Her choir was selected amongst other university choirs within the state to perform at the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Southern Regional Collegiate Festival and the Alabama Bicentennial Celebration (2019).