Dawn Barham

Board Member

Dawn Barham, a Mississippi native, holds Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is currently in her 35th year of teaching music education in the Mississippi public school system. Ms. Barham, a National Board-Certified Music Educator, currently serves high school students from all congressional districts at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Mississippi’s nationally ranked public residential high school for academically abled students. During her tenure at MSMS, she has made significant contributions to the performing arts curriculum, expanding its scope, developing outreach programs, and enriching the educational experience for her students. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Barham serves as the MSMS faculty senate chair and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. 

Ms. Barham is an inductee of the Mississippi Hall of Master Teachers, a Grammy Nominated Quarterfinalist Music Educator and a multiple year recipient of the Mississippi Economic Council’s Star Teacher Award and the Mississippi University for Women’s Outstanding Mentor Teacher Award. Her current and former professional affiliations include the American Choral Director's Association, National Association for Music Education, Mississippi Music Educator's Conference, Mississippi Theater Association and Mississippi Bandmaster's Association. She has served on the Board of Director's for the Columbus Arts Council and the Mississippi Boy Choir. Ms. Barham also serves as the chair of the entertainment committee for the annual Market Street Festival in Columbus, MS.