Gail Hightower

Ms. Gail A. Hightower, 77, of 3012 Brassfield Drive, Rocky Mount, North Carolina and formerly of New York, New York passed away surrounded by her loving family on Friday, March 8, 2024, at WakeMed Hospital of Raleigh, NC.

The funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Stevens Funeral Home, Wilson, NC.  Interment will follow in Rocky Mount Memorial Park, 4454 Dortches Blvd, Rocky Mount, NC.

A public viewing will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., at Stevens Funeral Home.

Gail Ann Hightower, Bassoonist, Educator and Arts Administrator was born on March 29, 1946 in New York, New York to the late James and Elizabeth Baxter Hightower.  She departed her earthly life on March 8, 2024 at Wake Med Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina.   

She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education Degrees from Manhattan School of Music, New York City.   Gail was a Professor Emeritus of the Aaron Copeland School of Music, Queens College, City University of New York. During her time at Queens College, she served as Director of the Louis Armstrong house and archives.  She also coproduced for WHMN – TV, Howard University, and has served as a panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts, and the Queens Council on the Arts.  

In addition, she founded and directed the Performing Arts Workshop of Queens.  As a Bassoon Instructor she taught privately, and on the faculties of the Settlement Music School, Philadelphia, The Bloomingdale House of music, New York City, and The Juilliard School of  Music Advanced Program, New York City.  Gail also served as a Choral Director for the New York Foundation for the Arts, The Manor House Workshops, New York City, and Minister of Music for The Pilgrim Church Ministries, Brooklyn, New York, and the ELIM International Fellowship, Brooklyn, New York.   She founded The Universal Symphony Orchestra, and served as its Artistic Director.

Hightower Music, Inc., was her most recent initiative in which she served as its Executive Director.
As a Bassoonist, she performed with Symphony of the New World, dance theater of Harlem, Opera Ebony, Brooklyn  Philharmonic, Boys Choir of Harlem, North Carolina Philharmonic, New York Grand Opera, Mostly Mozart Festival , Goldman Memorial band, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Lionel Hampton, Oscar, Brown, Junior, Stevie Wonder, Anthony Davis, Rejoicensemble, Jamil Nasser, and Barry Harris.

Gail was featured as a soloist with the Albert Einstein, Symphony Orchestra and performed at the 10th Annual Universal Coalition “Women In Jazz” Festival, with the New York chapter of The National Academy Of  Recording Arts and Sciences, the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and the Cabaret At The Russian Tea Room, New York City.  She was also featured as a soloist, and chamber music artist by the Gateway Festival, at North Carolina School Of The Arts, and the Eastman, School of Music, Rochester, New York.  Gail has participated in the Banff Arts Festival, Alberta, Canada.  She was a recipient of the Rockefeller foundation award, the national endowment for the arts award,  Queens College, city University of New York, Distinguished Service Award,  and was named “Outstanding Woman In the Arts” by the NAACP.  She has also received other numerous scholarships and awards.  Prior to her passing, Ms. Hightower was the President and Founder of Hightower Music, Universal Symphony, and Zamar Music Inc.  Simultaneously through these activities, she remained actively involved in the arts, the music, industry, education, the church and the community.

Gail leaves to cherish her loving memories to her brother, Owen Hightower and his children her nieces and nephews, Owen M. Hightower, William A. Hightower, David J. Hightower, Candice B. Hightower, Danielle Colding, Tyesha Boddie, Shreeta Quantano; and her great nieces and nephews, Sean, Jahlil, Kuran, Kassan, Tavughn, Unity, Phenix, William, Courtney, David, Justin, Akira, and Grace; a host of great great nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home, 1820 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy., Wilson, NC.

Condolences may be posted to www.stevensfamilyfuneralhome.com or faxed to 252-991-5849.

"Committed to Serve, Committed to Care"

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."   (Psalm 46:1)

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