Rebecca Walker Steele has had a highly successful career as a choral music director, voice teacher, music educator, singer and arts administrator. She holds a doctorate in Humanities and Music, with a special emphasis in Multicultural Music Education, Voice, Piano and Chorale Conducting from Columbia University.

          While an Undergraduate at Alabama State University, she studied under such notables as Hazel Harrison and Fredrick Hall. A faculty member at Bethune–Cookman University since 1976, Dr. Steele is a dynamic teacher who accepts nothing but the best from her students’ performance and stage presence. A master of musical interpretation, she is noted for her ability to train young voices to reflect the varied styles, quality and phrasing of the original works as heard in her latest renditions “From Bach to Gospel.” Dr. Steele and the Bethune-Cookman College Concert Chorale are constantly in demand for performances throughout the United States. Additional recordings include: “A Program of Distinction,” “From Bach to Gospel III, “and “Rhapsody of Christmas.”

          Dr. Steele is a member of the Music Education National Conference, Florida State Music Teachers’ Association, Southern Arts Federation, Florida Professionals Presenter’s Consortium, is listed in the Black Women in America: A Historical Encyclopedia and served as a member of the advisory committee for Rosewood, “The Beginning that Never Ends,” A Traveling Exhibit and has assisted with recruiting performing artistic talent for the Tamoka Correctional Institution.

Professionally, Dr. Steele has served as an adjudicator for Public School Artistic Activities, guest conductor and consultant for North Dade County Honors Program, conductor for the United Methodist Women’s Conference, conductor and adjudicator for Choral Festival at Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth, Texas, and was an evaluator for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. From 1947 to 1976, Dr. Steele was employed by Florida A&M University as director of choirs and chairman of the Choral Division. While a FAMU, she was president of the Florida State Music Association of Higher Education and served on the visiting committee for the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. She also served as conductor of the Concert Chorale for the Olympic Torch Ceremony in Daytona Beach, FL. in 1996. Dr. Steele was a presenter/ coordinator for Concert Chorale Performances for the United Methodist Church General Conference and out-of State Community Cultural Affairs Programs. Her honors and awards are numerous including bring the recipient of the Outstanding Service of the Year Award from Bethune-Cookman University, in Music Educators National Conference Certificate of Excellence and the Citation of Appreciation for the FAMU Men’s Glee Club.