1998 Fellowship Winner - Music Spears received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Tennessee in 1981, a Master of Music degree from Arkansas State University in 1984 and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Memphis in 1993. Spears has had numerous works commissioned or selected by jury for performance. She won the Authors and Publishers Award from the American Society of Composers in 1996.
Spears resides in Jonesboro.