ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE
Bertha
Hightower-Smith
BERTHA
HIGHTOWER-SMITH
Bertha Hightower-Smith is a name synonymous with music. From an early age growing up in College Park, Georgia, Bertha has always had a passion for music and was inspired by her father, a self-taught bass singer with perfect pitch. Bertha received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Clark College (presently Clark Atlanta University) where she studied flute under Professor James H. Patterson.
She currently resides in Fayetteville, Georgia with her husband, Paul, and is retired from Delta Airlines. Bertha always shares her God-given musical gifts, whether it is locally, nationally or abroad.
Along with performing, she is skilled in teaching music, instrumental and vocal, and organizing and directing instrumental ensembles and choirs. Included in her many performances are opening roles in various conferences which include the church music workshop of Jackson, Mississippi. There, she has opened for gospel greats such as Richard Smallwood, Daryl Coley, and others. Being a flautist with the Metropolitan Atlanta Community Band, (which is a 75+ membership of volunteer musicians from all over metro Atlanta) as well as a flautist for communion worship at her home church, Christians for a Change Baptist Church, are two of her greatest joys in music performance.
In 2008, she was featured in a flute recital at the Clayton County Arts Center in Morrow, Georgia, and in April 2016, the Samuel H. Johnson SSSP Foundation featured Bertha in a successful benefit concert at the Southwest Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.
Through her own organization, The Suite Company of Atlanta and Musicality, she provides freelance music services for all occasions. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The National Association and The Atlanta Chapter of The Gospel Music Workshop of America. Acknowledging that her musical gifts are indeed blessings, she finds great joy in sharing her talents with colleagues, spectators and music enthusiasts.
Bess Lights
BESS LIGHTS
Bess Lights is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. She ministers the spoken Word of God through the Holy Bible. Bess quotes, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 KJV