2013 Symposium on Music in Schools

june 6–9, 2013 • Presented with support from the Yale College Class of 1957

2013 The Role of Music in School Reform

Music in Schools

SYMPOSIUMon

Robert Blocker, Dean

The Role of Music in school reform

2013

Presented with support from the Yale College Class of 1957

Dear Delegates and Friends of Music,

It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to Yale, to the School of Music, and to our fourth biennial Symposium on Music in Schools. On this occasion we have the privilege of honoring fifty of the nation’s finest public school music teachers.

The 2013 Symposium addresses the role of music in school reform. This topic is especially relevant in the current education context. We hope that this time together will enlighten, inspire, and renew your extraordinary commitment to our nation’s children.

For its fiftieth reunion, the Yale College Class of 1957 provided an endowment that supports music education in the New Haven Public Schools. The School of Music is deeply appreciative of this gift and welcomes those class members who join us for the Symposium.

Best wishes for continued success in your professional pursuits.

Sincerely yours,

Dear Symposium Participants,

The Symposium on Music in Schools is a unique and very special event for the Yale School of Music, for it continues and reaffirms the historical commitment we have in support of the work of music educators at all levels. We understand that the performers and composers who attend Yale as graduate students are connected in a tangible way to the music educators who trained them. We recognize the continuum of music education and thus celebrate the fine musical training that exists at schools around the U.S.

You were selected as a Yale Distinguished Music Educator because of the quality of your work, the broadness of your thinking, and recognition you have received in your local community. The Symposium is designed to recognize great public school music teachers and to encourage them to place their work in the context of the broad field of music in America in the twenty-first century. We hope the sessions over these two days will create a new body of strategic thinking about the role of music in school reform.

We are so happy to welcome you to Yale. I hope your time with us is exciting, educational, and thought-provoking.

My very best wishes to all of you,

Welcome

Robert BlockerHenry and Lucy MosesDean of Music

Michael YaffeAsssociate Dean andSymposium Director

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1 Sprague Hall, 470 College St.

2 Swing Space Dorm, 100 Tower Pkwy.

3 Courtyard Marriott Hotel, 30 Whalley Ave.

4 Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Ave.

5 Morse College, entrance from York St. gate

Campus Locations

6 Stoeckel Hall, 469 College St.

7 Davenport College, 248 York St.

8 Phelps Gate, 344 College St.

9 Prospect-Sachem Garage, 200 Prospect St.

RegistrationWelcome Dinner

BreakfastMorning Session #1BreakMorning Session #2Lunch Breakout SessionsReports from Breakout Sessions Yale Campus ToursDinner on your ownPre-Concert TalkConcert: The Declassified

Breakfast Morning Session #1Break Morning Session #2LunchDiscussion: School ReformReceptionAwards Dinner

BreakfastSwing Space Dorm Checkout

Sprague Hall, lobbyLuce Hall, second floor

Morse College, dining hallSprague Hall, Morse Recital HallSprague Hall, lobbySprague Hall, Morse Recital HallMorse College, dining hallStoeckel Hall, various classroomsSprague Hall, Morse Recital HallMeet in Sprague Hall, lobby

Sprague Hall, Morse Recital HallSprague Hall, Morse Recital Hall

Morse College, dining hallSprague Hall, Morse Recital HallSprague Hall, Blocker RoomSprague Hall, Morse Recital HallMorse College, dining hallSprague Hall, Morse Recital HallDavenport College, common roomDavenport College, dining hall

Morse College, dining hall

1–6:30 pm7–9 pm

8–8:45 am9–10:30 am10:30–11 am11 am–12 pm

12:15–1:15 pm1:30–2:30 pm2:45–3:30 pm

4–5:30 pm5:30–7 pm7–7:30 pm

8 pm

8–8:45 am9–10 am

10:00 am–10:30 am10:30–11:30 am

12:00–1:15 pm1:30–3 pm

6–7 pm7–9 pm

8–8:45 am

Schedule

thursday · june 6

friday · june 7

saturday · june 8

sunday · june 9

Connect to the Yale Guest Wireless Network, no passwords required. The SSID for the network is YaleGuest.

The Arts Council of Greater New Haven provides ANDI (Arts, Nightlife, and Dining Information), an app for iPhone and Android that gives users access to dining and event information for the greater New Haven area. Visiting teachers may find this useful for Friday night dinner, or Sunday after the Symposium ends. Scan to get ANDI

Friday · June 7

morning session #19–10:30 am • Morse Recital Hall

WelcomeDeputy Dean Melvin Chen Associate Dean Michael Yaffe

WorkshopSchool Reform in the Modern Era: Contexts, Responses, and the Impact on the Arts

Richard Deasy, presenter

In his presentation, Richard Deasy will trace the history of school reform, from the launching of “Sputnik” to the current day. Within the context of his presentation, he will move us gradually towards the impact of school reform on music education, and will set a broad context for the discussions over the next two days.

morning session #211 am–12 pm • Morse Recital Hall

PanelCurrent Issues in School Reform & Advice for Music Teachers

Garth Harries and Scott Shuler, panelistsMichael Yaffe, moderator

While these two education leaders may have different points of view about how music fits within the context of school reform, they will both provide an overview to lead us to the breakout sessions with much to think about. Harries has been integrally involved in one of the most advanced school reform efforts to date (in New Haven) as Assistant Superintendent, and Shuler has advocated for the importance of arts education within public schools as President of NAfME, as a leader in state and national standards development, and as Connecticut’s Arts Education Consultant.

breakout sessions1:30–2:30 pm • Stoeckel Hall

The breakout sessions are an opportunity to further explore ideas from the morning sessions. Participants will be assigned to a group that will address a series of questions, led by a moderator. Each breakout group should select one or two people to report on the group’s discussion when we return to Sprague Hall.

pre-concert talk & concert7 pm • Morse Recital Hall

Paul Murphy, presenterThe Declassified, concert

This concert is a paid, ticketed event and open to the public – please remember to bring the complimentary ticket(s) from your registration packet. Seating is general admission.

The pre-concert talk at 7:00pm is open only to Symposium attendees. Members of The Declassified will discuss the role of a chamber music group in the creation of collaborative projects with school districts. Paul Murphy, a member of the group, will talk about the “new” definitions of teaching artists, and how their work has evolved to focus on partnerships that recognize the curriculum of the school district and the need to respect and complement it in creating arts activities.

Saturday · June 8

morning session #19–10 am • Morse Recital Hall

WorkshopRehabilitating Sisyphus: Collaboratively Realizing a Vision for Music in Learning and Life

David Myers, presenter

In this session, Prof. Myers will elaborate on the concepts from yesterday about school reform in general, but will focus on the value of partnerships in creating lasting and substantive work. While local conditions have a major impact on the quality and depth of partnerships, Myers will articulate a vision of how music teachers and teaching artists can dev-elop natural and strong relationships to enhance the quality of music instruction in each school.

morning session #210:30–11:30 pm • Morse Recital Hall

PanelPartnership Programs in Atlanta and New Haven

Ellen Maust, Dantes Rameau, and Michael Yaffe, panelists

This session will provide two specific examples of partnership “teaching artist” programs: the Yale/New Haven Music in Schools Initiative and the Atlanta Music Project. Yaffe will provide an overview of the Yale School of Music’s philosophy in collaborating with the New Haven Public Schools and how it could be accomplished in other settings. Maust and Rameau will review the impact of their programs on the stu-dents and teachers of their districts.

discussion: school reform1:30–3:00 pm • Morse Recital Hall

Michael Yaffe, moderator

This culminating session of the Symposium will be an opportunity for the fifty Distinguished Music Educators to help shape the conversation of the role of music in school reform. Through a moderated discussion, the teachers will be asked to articulate strong ideas and principles about how to ensure ways for music to be “front and center” in the discussions about school reform in the next five years. The dis-cussion will be videotaped and edited as a center-piece of the web dissemination about the Symposium.

reception & awards dinner6–9 pm • Davenport College

Welcome: IntroductionsDean Robert BlockerAssociate Dean Michael Yaffe

PerformanceAll-City Honors ChorusJonathan Berryman and Meagan Sheehan, Music Directors

Introduction of Keynote SpeakerMichael Yaffe

Keynote SpeakerAnne Midgette

Presentation of Distinguished Music Educator AwardsRobert Blocker and Michael Yaffe

Guest Speakers

richard deasy

Richard J. Deasy is the retired director of the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), a coalition of education, arts, business, philanthropic, and government organizations that demonstrates and promotes the role of arts education in enabling

students to succeed. Under his leadership, AEP published seminal research studies and reports that are credited with major advances in arts education in the United States. He commissioned and edited AEP’s acclaimed compendium of research, Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, and subsequently commissioned and co-authored the resulting book Third Space: When Learning Matters, a study of the transformative effects of the arts in high poverty schools.

Among his other AEP reports are Champions of Change: the Impact of the Arts on Learning, Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons from School Districts that Value the Arts, Young Children and the Arts: Making Creative Connections, and Arts Integration Frameworks: Research and Practice.

Prior to his leadership of AEP, Mr. Deasy was a senior state education official in Maryland and Pennsylvania, president and CEO of the National Council for Inter-national Visitors, and a prize-winning reporter on politics and government in Philadelphia and the surrounding metropolitan area.

For fifteen years, Mr. Deasy has chaired the Fine Arts Education Advisory Panel to the Maryland State Board of Education, assisting in the implementation of arts policies, standards, and professional development programs. Currently he is an advisor to national and local arts education organizations and is assisting in the creation of the Cleveland High School for Digital Arts.

garth harries

Garth Harries is an Assistant Superintendent for the New Haven Public Schools, responsible for designing and implemen- ting the School Change school reform strategy for the district of 20,000 students. In this role, he is responsible for school

evaluation, turnaround, and other portfolio strategies; talent strategies including development and evaluation; and the design of community wrap-around strategies like the Boost! collaboration with the United Way.

Prior to coming to New Haven, Garth was a senior executive with the New York City Department of Education, where he oversaw the creation of new school opportunities and choices for students and families. Before leaving the NYC Dept. of Education, Garth designed recommendations for the reform and redesign of special education services.

Garth began his career as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company, specializing in Financial Industries and Non-Profit Management. Garth has a J.D. with Distinction from Stanford Law School and a B.A. in Ethics, Politics, and Economics Summa Cum Laude from Yale University. On the weekends, Garth moves rocks on his wife’s organic farm.

scott shuler

Scott C. Shuler is the Arts Education specialist for the Connecticut State Department of Education. He has served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruc-tion for the Simsbury Public Schools; taught 3-12 instrumental and

general music; taught music education courses at several universities, including the Hartt School, Eastman School of Music, and New England Con-servatory; and served as Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at California State University, Long Beach. He earned his B.M. at the University of Michigan, his M.S. at the University of Illinois, and his Ph.D. at the Eastman School of Music.

Shuler has received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Educational Press Association for editing the MEJ issue on music and at-risk students, a regional Outstanding Music Educator Award from the National Federation Interscholastic Music Association, and many other honors.

Dr. Shuler has authored many publications, served on MENC’s UPDATE editorial board, and presented countless workshops on topics such as music program development and assessment, teacher preparation, advocacy, and the role of the arts in middle schools. He was a member of the task force that developed America’s first National Standards in music in 1994, helped design and interpret the 1999 FRSS federal arts education survey and 1997 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in the Arts, and served as president of the National Council of State Supervisors of Music. He is Immediate Past President of NAfME: The National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC) and co-chair of the writing team updating National Standards in Music.

the declassified

The Declassified is a cutting-edge chamber music society forging an integrated role for classical music in communities around the world. Based in New York City, The Declassified maintains a flexible roster of a new type of musician: virtuoso, arts advocate, and educator. They design residencies to reach audiences of broad scope, bringing creative concert experiences to schools, hospitals, prisons, and bars, as well as major international concert halls.

The Declassified was founded in 2011 by alumni of The Academy – a program of Carnegie Hall, the Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute. Upon leaving this prestigious fellowship, the musicians were inspired not only to keep playing together but also to create an entrepreneurial model for artists who want to meaningfully engage with society. As The Academy’s Ensemble ACJW, the musicians of The Declassified presented residencies in Spain, Mexico, Iceland, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, and Japan. Appearing at Carnegie Hall, their performances as Ensemble ACJW were called “dazzling” and “dynamic,” “categories be damned” (New York Times).

In The Declassified’s inaugural season, they designed acclaimed residencies in Iceland, South Carolina, Florida, and throughout New York City. Projects for the 2012-2013 season include return engagements to Iceland and South Carolina and new residencies in Mexico and Hong Kong, and concert series at SUNY Purchase, Princeton, and Bargemusic. The Declassified maintains a close collaboration with Carnegie Hall as resident artists on their Musical Connections program, and as a partner in planning and conducting national and international residencies on an ongoing basis.

» www.thedeclassified.org

david myers

A leader in arts collabo- rations, curriculum innovation, and lifespan learning, David Myers has been Director of the University of Minnesota School of Music since 2008 and is the American consultant for a joint European master’s degree

for new audiences and innovative practice. He wrote curriculum for Live from Lincoln Center and the Atlanta Symphony, and during 21 years at Georgia State University founded the Center for Educational Partnerships and its Sound Learning partnership with the ASO, community musicians, and inner-city schools.

His research has resulted in publications, consul-tancies, and presentations on preparing musicians to engage and build value for classical music among diverse populations. He has chaired panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and keynoted conferences of the League of American Orchestras, the Lectorate for Lifelong Music Learning (Netherlands), the International Research in Music Education Con-ference (UK), the International Conference on Life-long Music Learning, the College Music Society, and the Society for Music Teacher Education.

He serves on editorial committees of the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education and the International Journal of Community Music, and recently edited a section on lifespan learning for the Oxford Handbook of Music Education. He was a visiting professor at the University of Sydney, and for 10 years was principal evaluator for the League of American Orchestras. An accomplished organist, he serves on boards of the College Music Society, the MacPhail Center for Music, and the American Composers Forum, and as a governing member of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

ellen maust

Ellen Maust is Supervisor of Music for the New Haven Public Schools, where she manages a department of 77 music teachers at 42 schools and collaborates with the Yale School of Music and several other com-munity partners. To-

gether they are making strides in bridging the achievement gap in urban music education. She has devoted her entire professional life to the children of New Haven. Prior to becoming supervisor, she taught music in the district for 29 years.

Ellen holds a B.M. from Ohio Wesleyan University, and an M.S. and 6th Year Professional Certificate from Southern CT State University. She is a cur-riculum specialist concentrating on cross curricular content in music lessons, especially developing literacy through music. Although she has focused much of her career on advocating for the arts in the lives of children, Ellen is passionate about the im-portance of developing the whole child. She has been highly committed to school and community pro-grams that promote the intellectual, social, spiritual, and emotional development of children and youth.

In the community, Ellen is the President of Alliance Theatre, Inc. and has served as the organization’s Youth Coordinator for 16 years. She has been part of her parish youth ministry committee for 20 years and has been the recipient of the Archdiocese of Hartford Youth Formation, Commitment to God and Youth, and Light of the World awards.

Guest Speakers · continued

dantes rameau

Bassoonist Dantes Rameau is Founder of Empowered Artists Consulting, which pro-vides “Strategies for Social Good” to arts-based non- profits. Previously, he co-founded the Atlanta Music Project and spent 2.5 years as its Executive

Director. During this time he raised over $750,000 for the organization and grew programming to 150 students, 15 teaching artists, and four sites. As a member of the first class of Abreu Fellows (which is now known as the Sistema Fellows Program) at New England Conservatory, Dantes spent a year studying non-profit management and El Sistema, including two months teaching and observing in Venezuela.

Dantes holds a B.M. from McGill University and an M.M. from the Yale School of Music. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and with the Charleston Symphony, Wallingford Symphony, and Aspen Chamber Symphony.

In 2010 Dantes was one of 25 artists from over 9,000 applicants to be awarded $25,000 by AOL Artists’ 25For25 grant program. He was a member of LEAD Atlanta 2012, a leadership development program for Atlanta’s outstanding young professionals. He pre-sented on the arts and social change at TEDxPeachtree 2010, and perfomed with the Atlanta Music Project Teaching Artists at TEDxPeachtree 2011. At Digital Atlanta 2012, he presented on online crowdfunding.

Dantes has lectured at the New England Conservatory, Mercer University, and the University of Manitoba. In addition, he has consulted for dozens of El Sistema- inspired programs in Canada and the United States. In his spare time he enjoys soccer, basketball, salsa, TED, and travel.

michael yaffe

Associate Dean of the Yale School of Music, Michael Yaffe is a national leader in the field of community arts education. Before arriving at Yale, he served as Director of the Hartt School Community Div-ision at the University of Hartford. He has led

workshops and classes on community engagement throughout the country and supervised the development of the Music in Schools Initiative at Yale since he arrived in 2006.

Michael serves on the boards of the Hartford Sym-phony Orchestra and Full Force Dance Theatre and has been active in both the National Guild of Community Arts Education and the National Association of Schools of Music. He holds degrees in music from Clark University and the University of Toronto. In 2011, he was honored with a National Guild Service Award by the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

all-city honors chorus

The All-City Honors Chorus was founded in spring 2010, under the direction of Jonathan Berryman, Choral Director at Betsy Ross Arts School. Mr. Berryman is joined in leadership of the Chorus by Meaghan Sheehan, music teacher at Brennan Rogers School, and other guest conductors. A collaboration between the Yale School of Music, the Yale Glee Club, and the New Haven Public Schools, the All-City Honors Chorus gives talented NHPS students in 5th-12th grades the opportunity to participate in an honors level choral environment. Students are ex-pected to maintain membership in their school chorus as well, if one is available.

The All-City Honors Chorus rehearses weekly throughout the spring in the Yale Glee Club Room. Their first public performance was held on March 23, 2010 in Woolsey Hall on the Yale campus. Each year, they perform concerts at the Yale Glee Club/NHPS High School & Honors Chorus Festival, as well as at NHPS and Yale School of Music venues. Membership in the group comprises singers from schools throughout New Haven, who are admitted to the Chorus based on auditions in January each year.

Along with the Band and Orchestra, the Chorus is one of three All-City Honors Ensembles – programs of the Music in Schools Initiative.

anne midgette

Anne Midgette is the classical music critic of The Washington Post. A Yale graduate, B.A. ’86, she was for seven years a regular contributor of classical music and theater reviews to The New York Times. She has also written about

music, the visual arts, dance, theater, and film for The Wall Street Journal, Opera News, The Los Angeles Times, Town & Country, and many other publications, reviewing and interviewing everyone from Spike Lee to Twyla Tharp, Marina Abramovic to Plácido Domingo. At the Post, she oversees every aspect of classical music coverage, offsets her music writing with occasional visual art reviews, and maintains the blog The Classical Beat. » www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/classical-beat

She is co-author of The King and I, a candid and controversial book written with Luciano Pavarotti’s former manager, Herbert Breslin, about his 36 years working with the temperamental tenor (Doubleday, 2004); and of My Nine Lives, the memoir of the pianist Leon Fleisher, who reinvented himself after losing the use of two fingers on his right hand, only to regain their use some 30 years later (Double-day, 2010).

Guest Speakers · continued

Susan AlvesCumberland Public SchoolsCumberland, RI

Susan Alves has been a music teacher for 30 years. She has been the choral specialist at Cumberland High School, where she conducts all of the choral ensembles, for the last 25 years. The Clef Singers, the high school’s select, auditioned group has travel-led extensively, representing the State of Rhode Island at such events as the Bicentennial of the French Revolution in Paris in 1989 and at the Celebration of the End of World War II in Washington, D.C. in 1995. The ensemble also performed with Kenny Loggins and the Boston Pops in 2010. Susan has experience as department chair of the Fine, Applied, and Tech-nical Arts Departments and is National Board Certified.

Abigail AlwinAnn Arbor Public SchoolsAnn Arbor, MI

Abigail Alwin, B.M.A. and M.M.Ed., University of Michigan, has taught Orchestra in the Ann Arbor Public Schools since 2002. Her outreach efforts have included teaching Violin in Kenya during the summer of 2012. In addition to teaching, Ms. Alwin enjoys performing new music from local composers, learn-ing about non-Western classical traditions, and is active in the free improvisation community in South-east Michigan.

» clague2.aaps.k12.mi.us/alwin/Clague_Orchestras/ Welcome.html

Daryl BalseiroBig Spring School DistrictNewville, PA

Daryl Balseiro is in his eighth year at Big Spring High School (Newville, PA) where he directs the Concert Band, “Marching Bulldog” Band, two Jazz Bands, and the Percussion Ensemble. In addition, Balseiro teaches Intro to Music Theory, AP Music Theory, two levels of guitar classes, and serves as department head for the music department. During

the summers, Balseiro serves as a conductor with American Music Abroad.

Recently, Balseiro was named a semi-finalist in the search for the 2014 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and NAfME. In his time out-side of school, Balseiro maintains an active schedule as a freelance musician and also enjoys spending time with his best friend, inspiration, and wife, Julia. He has a B.M. in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and an M.M. in Conducting from Missouri State University.

Dr. Wendy BardenOsseo Area Schools, ISD 279Maple Grove, MN

Dr. Wendy Barden has served as a music educator and the K-12 Music Coordinator in Osseo Area Schools for 36 years. Her teaching experience spans elementary through college levels, and in every setting it is apparent that she values the process of music learning as much as the product or performance. Barden holds three degrees from the University of Minnesota – B.S. in Music Education, M.A. in Music Education, and Ph.D. in Music with emphasis in Music Education and Musicology. She has served as president of both the Minnesota Band Directors Association and Minnesota Music Educators Association. Barden is a member of Phi Beta Mu.

Distinguished Educators

Cara BernardNew York City Department of EducationNew York, NY

Cara Bernard is an Ed.D. student in music education and University Distinguished Fellowship recipient at Teachers College, Columbia University. Ms. Bernard works with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City™ in their Satellite School Program, working with New York City public schools to bring a choral ex-perience to over 1,000 children throughout the city.

As a choral clinician, she has given workshops and guest conducted throughout the tri-state area and New England, and has presented for and at the NYC Department of Education, College Music Society, Society for Music Teacher Education, NAfME, and Carnegie Hall. She also serves as a curriculum writer for the NYC Department of Education Office of Arts and Special Projects.

Ms. Bernard holds an M.M.Ed. from Westminster Choir College and a B.S. in Music Education from New York University. She studies conducting with Francisco J. Núñez and Lynnel Joy Jenkins.

David Bernard-StevensGeary County Schools, USD 475Junction City, KS

David Bernard-Stevens is a native of North Platte, NE and a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He has directed the string programs in Junction City, KS and the adjacent Fort Riley army post since 2007. In addition to growing the orchestra program, Bernard-Stevens also maintains a small private lessons studio and is an active performer in several local orchestras.

Aaron BreeckMontgomery County Public SchoolsMount Sterling, KY

Aaron Breeck began studying violin at age nine. He received his B.M.Ed. from the University of Kentucky. While there, he studied violin with Daniel Mason and Margaret Karp. Mr. Breeck’s initial experience in

teaching orchestra was at the University of Kentucky as a charter member of the UK String Project. Mr. Breeck is currently in his second year as the Director of Orchestras at Montgomery County High School, having instructed at McNabb Middle School and sur-rounding elementary schools for the six previous years.

Mr. Breeck is an active member of the orchestra com-munity throughout the state of Kentucky. He has been a guest conductor and has adjudicated for Solo & Ensemble Festivals as well as Large Ensemble Fest-ivals in central and Northern Kentucky. Mr. Breeck currently serves as a KMEA Orchestra Division Chair and is a member of NAfME and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA).

» www.montgomery.kyschools.us/olc/teacher.aspx?s=1227

Elizabeth BrownMorgan Local School DistrictMcConnelsville, OH

Liz Brown has been teaching general music to elemen-tary-aged children for six years. She instructs K-6th grade at East Elementary in McConnelsville, OH.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Liz received a B.S. in Music Education from Indiana University of Penn-sylvania and an M.M. in Music Education from Kent State University. In 2008 she received an Exemplary Educator Award from her school district. She currently instructs eight piano students.

Liz enjoys teaching music to her eager, young stu-dents. She loves to spark their imaginations and creativity. She is noted for her enthusiasm, energetic teaching style, and desire to go above and beyond. Her aspiration is to believe in her students so they believe in themselves, while instilling in them a lifelong connection to music. Liz lives with her husband Steve, also a music educator, in Marietta, OH.

Distinguished Educators · continued

Franklin Casstevens, Jr.Union County Public SchoolsMonroe, NC

Franklin Casstevens resides in Monroe, NC with his wife Holly and son Trevor. His passion for the arts is showcased each week as he serves as Arts Co-ordinator for Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts. He oversees arts classes, clubs, and com-munity programs including Benton’s partnership with Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, NC and their network as an A+ School. He writes grants and is working to create a true arts infused campus.

Mr. Casstevens served as Benton’s music specialist for 21 years before leaving the classroom in 2007, as the school became the first elementary school of the arts in UCPS by adding dance, drama and strings. He also serves as Minister to Music and Youth at the New Salem Baptist Church in Monroe and has seven private piano students weekly. He is very active in his community and loves being creative and thinking outside the box.

Christopher ClarkSouthern Berkshire Regional School DistrictSheffield, MA

Chris Clark holds an undergraduate music degree from Cleveland State University and a double Masters in Music Education and Choral Conducting from Bowling Green State University. He taught for a number of years in the Ohio public school system, where his students earned superior ratings at state adjudi-cated festivals, toured locally, and shared the stage with University of Toledo choirs. Mr. Clark has given lectures at state professional development conferences and conducted a number of community choirs.

Currently, Mr. Clark lives in Massachusetts, where he is Director of Music and choir teacher for grades 3-12 in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District. His Madrigal group won first prize in the inaugural Lenox Caroling Festival, beating out collegiate and semi-professional ensembles to claim the title. He performs regularly, directing the Sheffield Messiah Choir, The Albany Gay Men’s Chorus, and assistant directing the Cantilena Chamber Choir.

Priscilla ColemanPrince George’s County Public SchoolsUpper Marlboro, MD

Priscilla Coleman is a music educator and composer (ASCAP). She holds a B.M.Ed. from Howard University (1985) and a M.S.Ed. with a concentration in music from Bowie State University (2002), where her thesis was a case study on musical literacy. Ms. Coleman has taught grades K-12 for 27 years in the District of Columbia and in Prince George’s County Public Schools, and currently teaches at High Point High School. She has implemented Arts Integration and child centered strategies in her instruction.

Ms. Coleman has served as mentor teacher, adjudicator for choral festivals in the state of Maryland, and presenter at the Maryland Music Educator’s Conference.

Ms. Coleman conducted her composition “Gloria” in 2012 as Director of Prince George’s County High School Honors Chorus. Her compositions have been performed at the National Harbor, the John F. Kennedy Center, and at county, state, and national festivals.

Jennifer CollinsSouth Kingstown Public SchoolsWakefield, RI

Jennifer Collins is a freelance trumpeter and arranger from Rhode Island. She currently teaches band and general music to 350 middle school students in South Kingstown Public Schools.

Jenny earned her B.M. and M.M. with high dis-tinction from URI and then studied Kingian Non-violence. For 20 years, she was grant writer, arranger, and musical director for GEAR Productions. GEAR (Give Everyone a Role) is a theater company that creates and produces original musical plays and wel-comes all students in the cast. Jenny served on arts grant panels for RI State Council on the Arts, and facilitated the Arts Educator Evaluation Project for her district. Recently she submitted a grant that partners URI music majors with instrumental stu-dents in a music mentoring program. Jenny is most delighted by her three grown children, all amazing people. She sings alto in the Chorus of Westerly,


practices kundalini yoga, and loves swimming in the ocean.

Mark Collins, Sr.Washington County Public SchoolsAbingdon, VA

Mark Collins is a twenty-seven year veteran in instrumental music education and teaches at John S. Battle High School in Bristol, VA. He completed undergraduate studies at Tennessee Tech University, an M.Ed. at Milligan College, and an Education Specialist degree in administration from Lincoln Memorial University. Mr. Collins studied percussion with Joseph Rasmussen and Joe Morrello and com-position with Robert Jager and Aaron Copland.

His music ensembles consistently receive the highest awards in concert and marching performance, with individual students receiving multiple national awards. In addition to serving public education, he is an adjunct percussion professor at UVA College at Wise. Mr. Collins is a consultant for higher ed-ucation curriculum and design and has presented at research conferences. He remains active as a per-former, clinician, lecturer, adjudicator, and the CEO of Innovative Band Camps – a company dedicated to providing workshops to teachers and students in rural communities.

Sondra CollinsMarion County Public SchoolsOcala, FL

Sondra Allison Wenninger Collins is currently a music educator at Romeo Elementary School in Dunnellon, FL. In the past four years under her leadership, Romeo has presented more than thirty performances for families, community members, and School Board members, including Marion Elementary Music Festivals and All-County Elementary Honor Choir events. Collins is President of the Marion County Music Association and a member of NAfME, FMEA, FEMEA, and AOSA.

Collins has been a featured guest columnist in local media, including her most recent article “Diminish-

ing music education…” (Ocala Star Banner, February 2013). In 2010-2011 Sondra Collins was honored as Romeo’s Rookie Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Marion County. Collins holds an M.M. from Georgia State University and a B.M. from the University of Florida. Collins is an alumna of La Musica Lirica Opera (Italy), Harrower Summer Opera, and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Larysa DragonettiMarple Newtown School DistrictNewtown Square, PA

Larysa Dragonetti graduated Immaculata University with degrees in Music Education, Elementary Ed-ucation, and Music Therapy. She received her Orff Certification from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and her Masters from Cabrini College. She has been an elementary music teacher at the Marple Newtown School District in Pennsylvania for the last fifteen years. Prior to her current position she worked as a director of recreational therapy, music therapist, private music instructor, and performer.

Larysa is happily married to John, a university music professor and entrepreneur, and has two wonderful children: Alex, who is studying Music Performance, Music Education, and Elementary Education at West Chester University, and Dianna, who is a high school senior.

William EarvinAtlanta Public SchoolsAtlanta, GA

William J. Earvin is in his thirteenth year of teaching music. He is currently the Director of Bands at Benjamin E. Mays High School in Atlanta, GA. At Mays, the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Jazz Orchestra, and Marching Band continuously earn superior ratings and outstanding performance awards. While working with his high school students every day, Earvin is the Lead Band Instructor for the Atlanta Public Schools and a Master Teacher for the ArtsAPS program. He is also the District 5 Chair for the Georgia Music Educators Association. Earvin and his wife Tamesha are the proud parents of three

wonderful children: William Jarrett Jr., Alexandra White, and Crista Simone.

» www.mayshighbands.com

Jerry EstesSchool District of ClaytonClayton, MO

Jerry Estes teaches in the School District of Clayton, a suburb of St. Louis, MO, where he has been a middle school vocal music teacher for 33 years. He earned his B.M.Ed. from Southwest Baptist University, and his M.M. from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He has over 150 choral compositions in print with various national pub-lishers. He lives in St. Charles, MO with his wife, Julie, and his two children, Haley and Baxter.

Krista FanningCaddo Parish Public SchoolsShreveport, LA

Krista Fanning is in her 23rd year of teaching, and was recently chosen as the Caddo Middle Magnet Teacher of the Year. While Mrs. Fanning’s sense of humor is well known by students, she is very serious about the role of collaboration and the use of music across the curriculum. Mrs. Fanning is also a frequent contributor to local in-service events as a presenter about using technology in the music classroom.

» www.middlemagnet.com

Jason FlaksGeneva Community Unit School District 304Geneva, IL

Jason Flaks serves as director of bands at both middle schools in Geneva, IL. In high school and college, Flaks toured the U.S. and Europe with groups ran-ging in musical style from classical to punk rock and ska. He received his B.A. in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and earned his M.M.Ed. at Northwestern University. He continues to perform throughout the Chicago area as a freelance trumpet player. He is also the conductor of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Brass Choir, where he just celebrated his 15th anniversary. He lives in Geneva with his wife Chrissa and their twin four year old daughters Ellie and Viv.

Leslieann GrantRed Clay Consolidated School DistrictWilmington, DE

Leslie Grant holds an M.M. in Vocal Performance and a B.A. in Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She currently teaches General and Choral Music at Brandywine Springs School in Wilmington, DE (K-8). Voted Teacher of the Year in 1997, Ms. Grant is certified in both Kodály and Orff applications of music education. In 2003, Delaware Symphony named her recipient of the Jesse Ball DuPont Award for her significant impact in the field of music education. In 2005, Ms. Grant achieved National Board Certification, specializing in Early Childhood Music Education (ages 3-14). From 2003-


2007, she acted as both Asst. Director and Director of Music Education for the Wilmington Children’s Chorus. Ms. Grant has helped develop student state assessments as a reflection of teacher evaluation. In 2011-2012, she conducted in-depth action research relative to music centers and the Reggio Emilia ed-ucation approach.

Ginger GreerGreenville County SchoolsGreenville, SC

Ginger Greer is a violinist and conductor from Green-ville, SC. A National Board Certified Instrumental Music teacher, Mrs. Greer teaches at Riverside Middle School and serves as the lead string teacher for Green-ville County. She conducts the Repertory Orchestra and serves as string coach for the Carolina Youth Symphony as well as working with the Greenville County Schools orchestra system.

Mrs. Greer is a graduate of Boston University and the University of South Carolina. At USC, she was trained in string pedagogy through the nationally acclaimed String Project.

She has served as guest conductor/clinician for All Region Orchestras in Charleston and Spartanburg and as adjudicator for the SC Concert Festival. She serves on the executive board of the SC Music Ed-ucators Association, and is an active member of the American String Teachers Association. She resides in Greer, SC with her husband Todd and three children.

Kimberly GroverYarmouth School DistrictYarmouth, ME

Kimberly Grover has been teaching music for twenty-one years. She began her career in Fairfax County, VA and has taught the last seventeen years in Yar-mouth, ME, where she has instructed music at the 9-12, 5-8 and K-1 levels. Kimberly currently has 276 students who elect to participate in one of her six choral ensembles. These students represent over 60% of the student body.

Kimberly has served as vocal director of the high school musicals for the last fifteen years and has fulfilled the role of Team Leader for the Unified Arts educators for the past two years. Beyond her school responsibilities, Kimberly is the regional District II Honors Chorus Manager and serves as Teacher Mentor to music education students from the University of Southern Maine.

Kimberly loves her job and each year finds herself more passionate about music and teaching, motivating, and inspiring children.

https://sites.google.com/a/yarmouthschools.org/kimberly-grover/home

Mark GurgelAustin Independent School DistrictAustin, TX

Mark Gurgel graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a B.M. in Music Education. He holds an M.M.Ed. from Texas State University – San Marcos and has completed post-graduate work in Educational Leadership at Texas State University. Mr. Gurgel is in his twenty-first year as Head Band Director of Kealing Middle School in the Austin ISD.

Mr. Gurgel serves as Vice President of the Region 18 TMEA. His additional musical affiliations include Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and the National Band Association.

Under Mr. Gurgel’s direction, The Kealing Wind Ensemble performed in Chicago at The Midwest Clinic in December 2010 and was a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence National Wind Band Honors in fall 2011. The Kealing Band Program was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Cup in spring 2012.

Elizabeth HankinsLakewood City SchoolsLakewood, OH

Elizabeth Hankins began pursuing her Ph.D. in Music Education at Case Western Reserve University

in fall 2010. She has a B.Mus.Ed from Oberlin Conservatory and an M.A.Ed from Baldwin Wallace College. She began teaching in the Lakewood City Schools in 1990. She has taught orchestra in grades 5-12, music theory, and music history. She currently directs five orchestras at Lakewood High School, which consistently receive the highest ratings in state adjudicated events.

Ms. Hankins is the founding director of The Lake-wood Project, an innovative rock orchestra teaching all students a lifelong love of music. As Director of The Lakewood Project, she has taken her unique expertise to the International May Day Conference, the American String Teachers Association, and the Ohio Music Education Association. Ms. Hankins continues to explore the use of alternative string styles in the public school setting.

Sarah JonesMarion Independent School DistrictMarion, IA

Sarah Jones teaches JK-2 general music at Emerson Elementary in the Marion Independent School District. Sarah currently serves as her district’s Performing Arts Council facilitator, Vertical Music Team leader, District Leadership Team participant, and Core Curriculum Leadership Team member. Previous teaching positions have included choral methods at the University of Iowa, high school vocal music at Marion High School, choral conducting and vocal pedagogy at the University of Kansas, and elementary/middle school music in Ankeny, IA. Ms. Jones received her B.M. in music education from the University of Northern Iowa and M.M.E. in Choral Pedagogy from the University of Kansas. In October, Sarah will present her work with assessment and Iowa Core at the NAfME Annual In-Service Conference in Nashville.

Judith KoretNew Haven Public SchoolsNew Haven, CT

Judith Kramer Koret holds a B.F.A. and Teacher Certification from the University of Wisconsin-

Milwaukee, an M.M. in Flute and Kodály certification from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, a Kodály Certificate from the Kodály Musical Training Insti-tute, and a 6th Year Classroom Specialist Certificate from Southern CT State University.

Judy joined the Dr. Alexander Fellowship Team, a group of Kodály trained teachers piloting and imple- menting the Kodály Concept in the New Haven Public Schools in September 1979. When the funding ended, she stayed with several others to continue the philosophy of Zoltán Kodály. Judy currently teaches K-8 music at Clinton Avenue School in New Haven and plays flute in the Hamden Symphony Orchestra and flute/piccolo in the Augusta Curtis Band in Meriden. In her free time, she enjoys bowling and playing mah jongg.

Amy LeeRankin County School DistrictBrandon, MS

Amy Lee is a choral director and vocal coach from Florence, MS. An accomplished pianist and vocalist, she developed an award-winning choral program at Richland High School, a large Title I school in the third largest district in the state. She initiated an after-hours mentoring program to help students boost ACT scores and prepare for scholarship auditions. She also supervised a Night Out program to develop dinner and theatre etiquette skills, involving over four hundred students and incorporating a charity to provide appropriate dress clothes for disadvantaged students.

During her eleven years as a music educator, she also taught English, theatre, and visual arts, and co-authored a five-year arts grant to infuse music and local artists into the curriculum, culminating in the Governor’s Arts Award for the district.

Amy Lee earned a B.A. in K-12 music education and a B.A. in graphic design at Mississippi College.

» www.rcsd.ms/~amy.lee/RichlandSingers.htm


Christopher LeeNewtown Public SchoolsNewtown, CT

Christopher M. Lee has taught music theory and music technology at Newtown High School since 2004. His courses have sparked keen interest in music composition, marked by frequent student premieres and annual reading sessions devoted to the presen-tation of student work. This year, Chris was invited by the College Board’s Advanced Placement program to serve a second year on the national scoring team for the AP Music Theory exam.

Chris received his undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island and earned an M.M. in Composition from the Yale School of Music. He remains active as a composer and has enjoyed com-missions and performances throughout the region. Recently his composition “Prelude and Groove” appeared as the title track on a 2012 CD release by the brass group Alchemy, and his choral work “Sunrise Along Shore” was featured at the 2013 Westfield Festival of New Music (MA).

» www.composerchristopherlee.com

Rebecca LeviConservatory Lab Charter SchoolBrighton, MA

Rebecca Levi graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Comparative Literature (Italian and English) in 2007. From 2007-2009, she lived in Urubamba, Peru, working in a home for abused children and teaching music and English classes. In 2009, she was chosen as a member of the inaugural group of Abreu Fellows at New England Conservatory and spent the year studying the El Sistema youth orch-estra model in Boston, Los Angeles, and Venezuela.

In 2010, she co-founded the El Sistema music pro-gram at the Conservatory Lab Charter School, a public charter elementary school in Boston. She has directed the program since then, teaching pre-K and kindergarten general music and conducting the beginner string orchestra. In addition, she has developed a pre-orchestra program for kindergartners

called “Paper Orchestra,” inspired by El Sistema in Venezuela. She plays piano, flute and guitar.

www.conservatorylab.org

Eileen MaedaSanta Ana Unified School DistrictSanta Ana, CA

Eileen Maeda has been an elementary music teacher in Santa Ana, CA for the past 15 years. Her classes include 1st-3rd grade general music and MIND piano keyboard, 3rd grade recorder, 4th-6th grade band and orchestra, and 5th-6th grade chorus. She is part of a pilot program collaboration between SAUSD, Pacific Symphony (Orange County), and after-school program Think Together that offers additional after-school violin instruction to 4th-5th graders.

She has trained in Kodály, Dalcroze and Orff-Schulwerk, for which she has served for six years as co-president of the Orange County Orff Chapter. She is a teacher trainer for SouthCAP, The California Arts Project, and the OC Arts Advantage. Her volunteer activities include the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Paul MeehanBainbridge Island School DistrictBainbridge Island, WA

Paul Meehan has been a music educator for 20 years, ranging from K-6 general music, middle school general music and marimba ensembles, beginning band, middle school bands, and high school band, choir, and jazz band. He currently teaches on Bain-bridge Island, WA, where he has been for ten years. In that time, he has developed highly successful programs teaching and leading students in the building and tuning of marimbas. His students perform locally and around the region, supporting community events, helping to start marimba pro-grams in other schools, and raising awareness and funds for special causes. They have travelled to Nicaragua to perform, build, and teach marimbas and establish a marimba school, and have built and sent marimbas to boarding schools in Uganda. Paul

enjoys connecting with his students through music and empowering them to change lives with their passion and love for music.

Brian MitchellLongview School DistrictLongview, WA

Brian Mitchell, a third generation music educator, has been teaching music in the Longview School District since 1995. He currently teaches choir at Mark Morris High School and is the district music coordinator. Brian has been an active member of the music community as a conductor and clinician, and is currently serving on the Washington State board of the American Choral Directors Association. He and his wife Jenny, a 4th grade teacher, both enjoy spen-ding time with family and friends, traveling, and are both active amateur photographers.

Thomas MurphyRandolph Township SchoolsRandolph, NJ

Mr. Tom Murphy has been a public school instru-mental teacher in NJ for 25 years. He enjoys teaching 5th-12th grade students. He has been nominated for Ocean County Teacher of the Year and was named Sallie Mae Teacher of the Year and Governor Teacher of the Year. He earned his B.S. in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and his M.M.Ed. from Ithaca College. His percussion back-ground includes study with marimba virtuoso Gordon Stout and a two-month study in Siena, Italy.

Mr. Murphy is co-author of the recently published “100 Days to Sight Reading Excellence.” He has been a director with American Music Abroad for more than 20 years. Tom and his wife Maura enjoy their busy lives with their two young children, Hannah and Eli.

Ruben OrengoAsheville City SchoolsAsheville, NC

Ruben started playing the violin at his Junior High School in NYC and later attended and graduated from the High School of Music and Art in NYC. He studied at NC School of the Arts and The Peabody Conservatory, and holds a B.A. from Mars Hill College in NC. Music opened many doors for Ruben, including a rewarding career in Music Education for the past 27 years in Asheville, NC. He teaches strings at Asheville High and Asheville Middle School and is also musically active in his community. Ruben is a violinist with the Asheville Symphony and plays a blend of Latin jazz and rock with his band, Picante.

» www.orengomusic.com

Kris ParishCorona-Norco Unified School DistrictNorco, CA

Kris Parish is the founding director of the Santiago High School BOSS (Bands Of Santiago Sharks) in Corona, CA. He has developed the instrumental program from 29 students in 1995 to its current 230 members. His award-winning concert, marching, and jazz bands have been selected to perform across the nation, including Carnegie Hall, Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials in

Washington, D.C., and the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

Mr. Parish has performed professionally on trumpet with Burt Bacharach, Natalie Cole, Chris Botti, Bob James, David Benoit, Pat Boone, and BJ Thomas, among other notable musicians. He has directed several honor bands and is an adjudicator for concert and parade bands throughout Southern California. Mr. Parish leads worship and plays keyboards at Beacon Hill Assembly of God, where his wife, René, is senior pastor.

Justin PourtorkanOklahoma City Public SchoolsOklahoma City, OK

Mr. Pourtorkan received both his B.A. in Music Education and his M.M. in Performance with emphasis in Conducting from the University of Central Oklahoma. He has been performing since 2003 with the Fort Smith Philharmonic. He currently teaches at Classen School of Advanced Studies, where his orchestras continually achieve superior ratings and sweepstakes awards year after year. Mr. Pourtorkan was awarded Classen’s Teacher of the Year Award for the 2011-2012 school year and was Oklahoma City’s First Runner-Up for District Teacher of the Year. Mr. Pourtorkan lives in Edmond, OK with his wife Cara and two boys, Ethan and Shawn.

Paul RauschWoodstock Community Unit School District 200Woodstock, IL

Paul J. Rausch, in his 28th year at Woodstock High School, received his B.S. in Music Education from the University of Illinois and an M.M.Ed. from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. He’s the WHS Fine Arts Division Chair and the District 200 Music Curriculum Area Specialist. Paul is a member of NAfME, ACDA, and the AFT and served as president of the Woodstock Council of Teachers. He’s a studio musician and choral conductor for many re-cordings from OCP and GIA Publications and had one of his Christmas songs published by GIA. His

choirs have consistently received superior ratings at state contests and have performed throughout Eur-ope, Mexico, and the United States. WHS choirs have been featured at the IL-ACDA Fall Conference, the IMEA Mid-West Regional Conference and the IMEA All-State Music Conference. He and his wife Donna are the proud parents of four fine young men.

Tracey RedusRound Rock Independent School DistrictRound Rock, TX

Tracey Redus is in her ninth year as head band director at Chisholm Trail Middle School and her sixteenth year teaching in Round Rock ISD. She received her B.M.Ed. in 1990 and her M.S. in Music in 1992 from Radford University in Virginia. She studied clarinet with Dr. Norman Todenhoft and conducting with Mark Camphouse. Prior to coming to Chisholm Trail, Mrs. Redus was assistant band director with the award-winning Grisham Middle School Band. She also served four years in the United States Navy Band as a clarinet/saxophone/vocal per-former with various groups.

Mrs. Redus is the mother of two boys: Kenny, age 10, and Timothy, age 7. Since the passing of her hus-band, Wayne this February from brain cancer she is a strong advocate for brain cancer research. Wayne was a constant source of encouragement and support during her education career.

» teacherweb.com/TX/ChisholmTrail/Band/ap7.stm

Sarah ReeseAnderson School District FourPendleton, SC

Sarah Reese, former principal artist for the Metro-politan Opera, has performed throughout the US and abroad. She was the soprano soloist on the Grammy winning recording “Prayers of Kierkegaard” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Reese made her Carnegie Hall debut with the American Composers Orchestra and was artist in residence with the Opera Company of Boston for over 15 years. Reese


performed the roles of Madama Butterfly with the Company, Mimi in La Bohème, Violetta in La Traviata, The Verdi Requiem, Musetta, and Micaela in the opera Carmen, and was invited to present a command per-formance at the Bolshoi Theatre.

A favorite soprano of conductor Herbert Von Karajan, Sarah was hired to sing The Brahms Requiem solos with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. She soared vocally at The Proms concerts in London, England for Radio France, which was heard by over a million listeners.

» www.sarahreese.net

Sarah RossMarana Unified School DistrictMarana, AZ

Sarah Ross is in her sixth year as choir director at Marana High School in Tucson, AZ, where she teaches four levels of choir, voice, and musical theatre. In 2011, she was named the University of Arizona/Circle K Teacher of the Year; in 2012 she was recog-nized as Teacher of the Year for the Marana Unified School District. Sarah specializes in ethnic and multicultural music and serves as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Arizona chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Sarah has served on various academic intervention committees at her school and is currently the system administrator for a school-wide academic advisory program.

Nancie SimmonsGulfport School DistrictGulfport, MS

Nancie Simmons graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Piano Pedagogy and Music Education. She has received a Masters degree in Elementary Education and has twice completed the requirements for National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music. She has been teaching Elementary General Music to K-5th grade students for over 16 years, mainly in public schools on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She is currently the

Elementary Division President of her state music organization, MMEA.

She has been awarded several grants to supplement her music program that have provided her children opportunities to view professional performances at school. She enjoys planning programs and lessons for her children to make music and use their music skills in relevant situations. She strives to keep growing as an educator by trying new ideas and by attending workshops. She is married and has one daughter.

Matthew SisiaOyster Bay-East Norwich Central School DistrictOyster Bay, NY

Matthew Sisia is the Director of Bands at Oyster Bay High School where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Pit Orchestra and advises the Tri-M Honor Society. Currently a doctoral student at the Hartt School, Mr. Sisia holds degrees from Pennsylvania State University and The Crane School of Music.

Mr. Sisia has held positions as both the Associate Conductor of Bands and adjunct professor in music education at Long Island University. He is the founder and director of the New York Chamber Ensemble and serves on the executive board of the New York State Band Directors Association. Mr. Sisia is a mem-ber of the College Band Directors National Asso-ciation, the National Association for Music Education, and the Nassau Music Educators Association.

Steve StickneyLinn-Mar Community School DistrictMarion, IA

Steve Stickney has been the Director of Bands at Linn- Mar High School since 2004. A native of Cedar Rapids, IA, Steve earned his B.M.Ed. and M.M.Ed. from The University of Iowa, and has completed over 45 hours of post-graduate work at The University of Iowa, Illinois State University, Seattle Pacific University, and Northwestern University as a summer Fellows recipient. During the summer of 2003, Steve traveled to Japan as a Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar.

Steve’s professional affiliations include the Iowa Band-masters Association, Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association, Iowa Music Educators Association, and the Jazz Educators of Iowa. He has served as President of the Iowa Unit of the International Association of Jazz Educators, President of the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association, President of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, and currently chairs the Iowa Bandmasters Association Concert Band Affairs committee.

» www.linnmar.k12.ia.us

Patti StoddardHibbing Public SchoolsHibbing, MN

Patti Stoddard is currently the elementary music specialist for 1300 students in three schools in Hibbing, MN, after twenty-one years directing senior high school choirs. She also conducts the Hibbing Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Temple (SATB div.) Choir. Patti holds an M.M. in choral conducting from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

To motivate and to inspire excellence, Patti and her music students have partnered to perform for more than forty regional businesses and senior centers, and for: Chanticleer, VocalEssence, the London Haberdashers Aske Choirs, the Venice Church of San Stae, the Paris Sainte-Chapelle, the Holy Cross Parish, Charleville, Ireland; St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin; the United Nations, NYC; St. Olaf College, and with St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, NYC; the Salzburg Cathedral Choir and Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra.

Michael SwartzLincoln Public SchoolsLincoln, NE

Michael Swartz studied applied double bass with Oscar Zimmerman at the Eastman School of Music. He received his B.M.E. and Masters in Secondary Administration from the University of Nebraska and is in his thirtieth year teaching 4-12 strings and orchestra in Lincoln Public Schools. In addition to his public school teaching, he maintains an active

double bass studio, is principal bassist in Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, and plays in the Omaha Symphony Orchestra.

A strong believer in music as a medium for community service, he has been the “Captain” and leader for the SAIL (Strings Alliance in Lincoln) Summer Music Camp, serving over 350 students annually and now in its twenty-ninth year. He is a past president of Nebraska ASTA, received the Nebraska ASTA 2009 Outstanding Music Educator award, and is an “Admiral” in the mythical Navy of the Great State of Nebraska.

» sail.lps.org

Siema SwartzelCleveland City SchoolsCleveland, TN

Siema Bailey Swartzel loves to share her passion for music. She is a 1983 graduate of Lee University with a B.M.E., where she studied voice with Virginia Hor-ton. She has taught elementary to undergraduate music. During her career, she has relentlessly sought out ways to provide opportunities for her students, and is an avid grant writer. She is currently the Music Specialist for Arnold Memorial Elementary School and directs a 50 voice student choir, a lively Trash Can Band, and an Orff ensemble. She is National Board Certified in Early Childhood Music. Other distinctions include school and county Teacher of the Year as well as serving as a writer for music ed-ucation standards for her state. She is inspired every day by her three children, Joel, Olivia and Aubrey, and her husband of 27 years, Lyle, and is proud to share this accomplishment with her students and colleagues past and present.

Amanda TiersonWebster Central School DistrictWebster, NY

Amanda Tierson has been teaching public school for 29 years at both the elementary and senior high levels. She is the Music Lead Teacher at Webster Schroeder High School where she currently teaches Wind Ensemble and 9th Grade Band. She also enjoys


teaching Music Education Practicum, a course for high school students who wish to become music educators, and mentoring student teachers.

Ms. Tierson earned her M.A. in Music Education from Eastman School of Music, and B.M.Ed. from the University of Northern Colorado. In addition to teaching, she serves on the Board of the Monroe County School Music Association as the Senior High Solo Festival Coordinator. She also served on the Editorial Board for the Music Educators Journal where she reviewed articles from 2008-2012. Ms. Tierson is committed to enriching students’ lives by developing an understanding of music, and creating positive, memorable, musical experiences.

Brian TimmonsBergenfield Public SchoolsBergenfield, NJ

Brian P. Timmons is the District Music Coordinator for the Bergenfield Public Schools and Director of Bands at Bergenfield High School. He directs the Honors Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Marching Band, and teaches AP Music Theory and brass lessons.

Now in his fifteenth year teaching, he completed his B.M. in classical performance and music education at William Paterson University, studying conducting and trumpet with Dr. J. Craig Davis, and his M.A. in wind conducting at Hofstra University, studying with Dr. Peter Loel Boonshaft. He served as president of the Music Educators of Bergen County from

2010-2012 and serves on the Board of Trustees for the North Jersey Band Festival.

A graduate of the Bergenfield Public Schools, he proudly continues to reside in Bergenfield with his wife Megan, an arts administrator, and daughters Kaleigh and Alanna and son Declan.

» www.bergenfield.org/domain/76

Liesl WietgrefeFairbanks North Star Borough School DistrictFairbanks, AK

Liesl Wietgrefe graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a degree in Music Education in the fall of 2003. She completed her student teach-ing in Fairbanks, AK soon after her husband was stationed there with the US Army. Liesl took the music position at Randy Smith Middle School the following year and taught Jazz Band, Concert Band, Choir, Orchestra, and World Drumming. In the fall of 2008, Liesl was hired as the band and steel drum director at West Valley High School. While working there, she has taught Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Steel Drums. Liesl enjoys performing with various ensembles around town and accom- panying her church choir in her free time. Liesl has three daughters ages 6, 4, and 1; a husband; and a dog.

Stephen ZimmermanNorthwestern Regional School District No.7Winsted, CT

Stephen Zimmerman is currently in his 15th year at Northwestern High School where he serves as Music Department Chair and teaches band, guitar, and music theory. His ensembles have earned numerous sweepstakes awards at festivals, and the Northwestern Wind Ensemble has performed at the CT State Music Educators Convention three times under his direction. In 2011 he earned Northwestern’s Striving For Excellence Award, and he was named the 2012 CMEA Secondary Educator of the Year. He is the founder and chairperson for the Northern Region Youth Honor Band and Flute Choir as well as the founder of the Litchfield County Band Festival.

Mr. Zimmerman regularly guest conducts and pre-sents professional development sessions on music literacy and instrumental music assessment through-out the northeastern US. He lives in Burlington, CT with his wife, Kate and two daughters: Paige, age 8, and Lauren, age 4.


Music in Schools Initiative

The Yale School of Music has long supported arts education programs in the New Haven Public Schools, in our role as one of the leading arts organizations in New Haven. This effort was con-firmed and enhanced with the establishment of the Music in Schools Initiative in 2007, thanks to the generous 50th reunion class gift by the Yale College Class of 1957. In recognition of the value of music and arts education in the public schools, these visionary Yale alumni established an endowment to ensure the continuing development of music programs in New Haven.

The endowment identifies three main responsibilities for YSM:

1. To provide programs in New Haven Public Schools that complement the work of full-time music teachers

2. To host a biennial symposium for teachers in public schools from around the United States

3. To host visiting professors to work in music education and train School of Music students and New Haven Public School teachers

YSM provides graduate teaching artists to more than twenty-five New Haven Public Schools, serving the dual purpose of supporting NHPS music teachers and training our students in school-based work. The School also hosts All-City Honors Band, Chorus, and Orchestra ensembles to serve the district’s most talented young musicians. More information on all of these programs can be found on our website.

In all of these programs, the School of Music is committed to ensuring that the role of music in the public schools continues to grow and evolve.

» music.yale.edu/community

Symposium on Music in Schools

The Symposium on Music in Schools is held once every two years at the Yale School of Music. With support from the Yale College Class of 1957, the Symposium honors fifty teachers from around the country for their outstanding accomplishments teaching music in public schools. For four days in June, distinguished music educators convene in New Haven to participate in a variety of work-shops, discussions, and other events, culminating with the presentation of fifty Yale Distinguished Music Educator Awards at the closing banquet.

The first Symposium in 2007 brought together for-ty-five educators from nineteen states. The theme, Music: A Child’s Birthright, included curricular workshops, panel discussions with international music school and conservatory administrators, lectures by leading pedagogues in the field, and a recital by the renowned pianist Emanuel Ax. Roberta Guaspari, founder of the Opus 118 School of Music and the subject of the film Music of the Heart, gave an impassioned keynote address.

The 2009 Symposium hosted fifty Yale Distin-guished Music Educators as well as the New Haven Public School music teachers. The Symposium

focused on El Sistema, the Venezuelan music edu-cation system, and explored ways in which it could be incorporated into American music education. Attendees discussed the role of the music teach-er in the general classroom, using a New Haven collaboration as a case study. For the keynote address, Lucia Brawley, ’02MFA and blogger for the Huffington Post, spoke about the value of arts education in American culture.

The third Symposium in 2011 focused on two main themes: integrating music into the general classroom, and the relationship between visiting teaching artists and public school music teachers. Attendees were chosen from a pool of 330 nomi-nees from forty-five states. Workshops included a demonstration of distance learning technology, and a talk by acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma in conjunction with the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. The keynote speech was given by John Merrow, Education Correspondent for PBS NewsHour and President of Learning Matters.

» music.yale.edu/community/symposium

Yale School of MusicEstablished in 1894, the Yale School of Music con-tinues a position of international leadership in the training of performers, composers, and teachers. A professional graduate school and the only school of music in the Ivy League, the Yale School of Music maintains a highly selective admissions process, ad- mitting approximately 200 students who come from the finest American and international conservatories and universities to study with a distinguished faculty. The School has one of the highest international profiles at Yale, engaging globally in cooperative partnerships with leading conservatories, schools, orchestras, and opera companies.

Alumni of the Yale School of Music hold major positions throughout the music world. In addition to performing with and conducting preeminent American and international orchestras, many graduates have founded or joined prominent chamber music ensembles. Yale School of Music graduates also provide strong leadership at numerous academic and cultural institutions.

The Yale School of Music awards the Doctor of Musical Arts, Master of Musical Arts, and Master of Music degrees, as well as the Artist Diploma and the Certificate in Performance.

» music.yale.edu

Robert BlockerThe Henry and Lucy Moses Dean of Music

Melvin Chen Deputy Dean Michael Yaffe Associate Dean

Rubén RodríguezLead Teacher, Music in Schools Initiative

Jessica J. JohnsonAssistant to the Associate Dean

Jack VeesCenter for Studies in Music Technology, Director

Office of CommunicationDana Astmann, ManagerMonica Ong Reed, DesignerAustin Kase, Video Producer

Concert Office Krista Johnson, ManagerCarol Jackson, Box Office ManagerMichael Zuber, Box Office Assistant

Operations Tara Deming, ManagerChristopher Melillo, Assistant ManagerKate Gonzales, Stage ManagerStephanie Tubiolo, Symposium Assistant

Recording StudioEugene Kimball, Director

Information TechnologyGreg Johnson, Technology Professional

PhotographyBob HandelmanMatthew Fried

Robert Blocker, Dean

Presented with support from the Yale College Class of 1957

2013 Symposium on Music in Schools

Documents

yale school of music

friends of music

deanthe role of music

work of music educators

continuum of music education

broad field of music

school reformmusic

yale college class