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40 under 40

Chris R. Millett

Back to 40 Under 40 Chris R. Millett Assistant Professor of Music Therapy, Practicum Coordinator and Board-Certified Music TherapistUniversity of LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky Imagine a high-quality, affordable, community music therapy program that serves people across their lifespans — from mommy-and-me groups for NICU grads to senior adult community choirs. That’s what the Music Therapy Clinic (MTC) […]

Tiphanie L. McClenton

Back to 40 Under 40 Tiphanie L. McClenton Elementary Music SpecialistBoard-Certified Music TherapistBryant Elementary SchoolMableton, Georgia At Bryant Elementary in Mableton, Georgia, every student has the right and ability to learn, and “it’s my job to help them discover it,” says Elementary Music Specialist Tiphanie L. McClenton. “My program is all about curiosity, creativity and […]

Jake Matheson

Back to 40 Under 40 Jake Matheson band teacher at Forest Lake Area Middle SchoolBand Director for Forest Lake Marching Band Forest Lake, Minnesota Band Teacher Jake Matheson leads with heart and creates a culture where every student knows that they belong, feels valued and can contribute regardless of their skill level. “You don’t have […]

Aron Kontorovich

Back to 40 Under 40 Aron Kontorovich Marching Band Director, Director of Piano and Coordinator of Student ActivitiesJames Madison High SchoolBrooklyn, New York After the pandemic, the marching band at James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York, was shut down. Aron Kontorovich wanted to resurrect the band and was “building the ensemble with no […]

Keith Ziolkowski

Back to 40 Under 40 Keith Ziolkowski Orchestra TeacherCreekside Middle SchoolCarmel Clay SchoolsCarmel, Indiana What is the best tool that Keith Ziolkowski, Orchestra Teacher at Creekside Middle School in Carmel, Indiana, uses with his students? Being genuine. “All my students see me for who I am, which includes my knowledge, passion and excitement to teach […]

Sarah Williams

Back to 40 Under 40 Sarah Williams Band DirectorWest Junior High SchoolPocono Mountain School DistrictPocono Summit, Pennsylvania Flexibility is the key to Sarah Williams’ success. The Band Director at West Junior High School in Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania, has been a K-2 general music teacher, junior high choral director, junior high band director and assistant with […]

Alex Whitehead

Back to 40 Under 40 Alex Whitehead Director of BandsJefferson Middle SchoolFort Wayne, Indiana Alex Whitehead’s visionary teaching helps his students thrive as musicians and be confident, disciplined young people. “I do this by being 100% genuine and constantly striving for my students to be the very best version of themselves that they can be,” […]

Daniel Upton, Jr.

Back to 40 Under 40 Daniel Upton, Jr. Director of Bands at Harrisonburg High School Adjunct Music Faculty at Bridgewater CollegeHarrisonburg, Virginia Some of the sayings commonly heard or read on banners in Daniel Upton, Jr.’s band room include: “We Before Me” and “All In, All the Time.” Not only do these quotes reflect the […]

Enrique Tellez

Back to 40 Under 40 Enrique Tellez Director of Bands and OrchestrasButler Middle SchoolCottonwood Heights, Utah “Effort and focus are two things we can control,” Enrique Tellez tells his class on a regular basis. The Director of Bands and Orchestras at Butler Middle School in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, shows his students that there is a […]

Luis “Tito” Talamantes

Back to 40 Under 40 Luis “Tito” Talamantes Interim Assistant Principal atCesar Chávez High SchoolMariachi Director at University of the PacificStockton, California Luis “Tito” Talamantes juggles being a mariachi musician and educator at the K-12 and collegiate levels — and he makes it look easy. “Mariachi is inherently intergenerational, rooted in mentorship and community, which […]

Erik Stone

Back to 40 Under 40 Erik Stone Band Director and Vocal Music/Media Arts TeacherGordon Parks Academy, STEM Leaders in Applied and Media ArtsWichita, Kansas The music program at Gordon Parks Academy, a K-8 magnet school known as the STEM Leaders in Applied and Media Arts, in Wichita, Kansas, was suffering because of high teacher turnover. […]

Shannon Stem

Back to 40 Under 40 Shannon Stem K-8 Music Teacher and 6-8 Musical Theater DirectorUniversity AcademyFounder, Beacon Arts CollectivePanama City, Florida Music Teacher and Musical Theater Director Shannon Stem combines storytelling, movement and music in her classroom and during performances because she teaches them as interconnected elements of expression rather than separate skills. “This integrated […]

Eric Stashek

Back to 40 Under 40 Eric Stashek Director of BandsLincoln Jr./Sr. High SchoolLake City, Minnesota The music program at Lincoln Jr./Sr. High School in Lake City, Minnesota, helps students believe in what’s possible. Director of Bands Eric Stashek says, “I have an instinct for bringing energy and optimism into a space and turning ideas into […]

Dr. Andrew J. Smouse

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Andrew J. Smouse Co-Director of Bands and OrchestrasValley High SchoolClark County School District Las Vegas, Nevada “I teach life but use music to do it,” says Dr. Andrew J. Smouse. How does the Co-Director of Bands and Orchestras at Valley High School in Las Vegas do this? He describes […]

Matt Siffert

Back to 40 Under 40 Matt Siffert Director of External AffairsMusical Mentors CollaborativeBoulder, Colorado Prior to the pandemic, Musical Mentors Collaborative (MMC) was a small group of volunteer musicians who taught free private lessons to elementary school students in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York. During the pandemic, MMC designed a teaching artist program, […]

Dr. Sonya Schumann

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Sonya Schumann Lecturer of Piano and Community Music School Piano CoordinatorSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego, California Dr. Sonya Schumann builds intentional ecosystems where people, programs and values are interconnected and can thrive. “I don’t just teach piano,” says the San Diego State University Lecturer of Piano, “I orchestrate environments […]

Trevor Rundell

Back to 40 Under 40 Trevor Rundell Band DirectorBartlett High SchoolBartlett, Tennessee Band Director Trevor Rundell put a unique spin on long-term goal-setting with his students at Bartlett High School in Tennessee. He sets a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (a concept from the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins). “When I arrived at Bartlett, […]

Sean Rosenberry

Back to 40 Under 40 Sean Rosenberry General Music Teacher and Director of BandsHorace Mann School Lower DivisionBronx, New York The ability to improvise and think on his feet are essential skills for Sean Rosenberry, who teaches kindergarten and 1st grade general music classes and directs the 4th– and 5th–grade band at Horace Mann School […]

Al Rodriguez

Back to 40 Under 40 Al Rodriguez Orchestra Director and Music Technology Teacher at Mount Vernon High SchoolMusic Director at Washington Metropolitan Youth OrchestraAlexandria, Virginia Opportunity is the single unifying principle that Al Rodriguez has built his orchestra program around at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and at the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. “My […]

Rolando Rivera

Back to 40 Under 40 Rolando Rivera Mariachi DirectorDiamond Hill – Jarvis High SchoolFort Worth, Texas Mariachi Director Rolando Rivera uses his unique and superior adaptation skills to build groups from the ground up and adapt seamlessly to any ensemble placed before him. “This flexibility allows me to create strong foundations, foster growth and ensure […]

Catherine Plichta

Back to 40 Under 40 Catherine Plichta Director of Instrumental Music The Theater Arts Production Company SchoolBronx, New York “In the purest form, teaching is all about connection,” says Catherine Plichta, Director of Instrumental Music at The Theater Arts Production Company (TAPCO) School in the Bronx. “Building strong and meaningful relationships with my students is […]

DeVon Pickett

Back to 40 Under 40 DeVon Pickett Director of ArtsScotland County SchoolsLaurinburg, North Carolina DeVon Pickett did not plan to be a music educator — he graduated from Fayetteville State University with a degree in music performance. “I took a gamble on becoming a band director and spent three years at a middle school in […]

Kyle Norris

Back to 40 Under 40 Kyle Norris Assistant Director of Bands Vandegrift High SchoolLeander, Texas Kyle Norris, the Assistant Director of Bands at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas, stepped into a program that has a rich history of success and well-established systems. “Rather than trying to reimagine those structures, my focus has been on […]

Amrutha Murthy

Back to 40 Under 40 Amrutha Murthy Band DirectorPark Vista Community High SchoolLake Worth, Florida What’s the secret behind the band program at Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth, Florida? “I often tell my students that ‘this is your band, not mine – what do you want?’ This lets them know that every […]

Meghan Mulligan

Back to 40 Under 40 Meghan Mulligan Music TeacherThe Deron School Inc.Montclair, New Jersey Meghan Mulligan chose to pursue special music education because of her younger brother who is autistic and was never provided the same musical opportunities that she had growing up. “I studied Special Music Education for my master’s degree at Wichita State […]

Kasey Julian

Back to 40 Under 40 Kasey Julian Vocal and General Music TeacherOrchard Hills Elementary School Novi, Michigan “Through music, I try to connect to my students, so we can grow together,” says Vocal and General Music Teacher Kasey Julian, who proudly embraces a unique multidisciplinary, socially conscious approach. In November 2024, her students at Orchard […]

Dr. Kyle Hutchins

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Kyle Hutchins Assistant Professor of Practice in SaxophoneVirginia TechBlacksburg, Virginia Virginia Tech is known as a leading research institution, but it is also “an incredible place to make music because it combines a strong culture of collaboration, cutting-edge facilities and a community that values experimentation and creativity,” says Dr. […]

Heather Hurley

Back to 40 Under 40 Heather Hurley Director of BandsPrinceton Community Middle SchoolPrinceton City SchoolsCincinnati, Ohio Director of Bands Heather Hurley relies on her large toolbox of strategies so her students at Princeton Community Middle School can succeed at their own pace and in their own way. “Nothing I do is random,” she explains. “Every […]

Matthew Gramata

Back to 40 Under 40 Matthew Gramata Band DirectorWest Milford Township High SchoolWest Milford, New Jersey Band Director Matthew Gramata considers himself a bit unorthodox and unconventional for a music educator, and he brings a unique kind of creativity and vision to his music program at West Milford Township High School in New Jersey. “I […]

Elaina Gallas

Back to 40 Under 40 Elaina Gallas Music Teacher and Choral DirectorMill Creek ElementaryNolensville, Tennessee Giving back is at the heart of Elaina Gallas’ music program at Mill Creek Elementary in Nolensville, Tennessee. For the last three years, she has implemented a service project for each grade. Examples include: kindergarteners collecting soda tabs for the […]

Joshua Emanuel

Back to 40 Under 40 Joshua Emanuel Music TeacherA. MacArthur Barr Middle SchoolNanuet Union Free School DistrictNanuet, New York Imagine a middle school music program that incorporates songwriting, music tech, guitar, ukulele and Ghanaian music. That’s what Music Teacher Joshua Emanuel has created at A. MacArthur Barr Middle School in Nanuet, New York. He modernized […]

Heather Barclay Drusedum

Back to 40 Under 40 Heather Barclay Drusedum Director of ChoirsTarkanian Middle SchoolLas Vegas, Nevada At the heart of the choir program at Tarkanian Middle School in Las Vegas, is the belief that choral music should be both musically rewarding and deeply human. “I balance high musical expectations with genuine care for my students, creating […]

Dr. David Dockan

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. David Dockan Assistant Professor of Music EducationLouisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, Louisiana Dr. David Dockan, Assistant Professor of Music Education, says “Louisiana State University is a magical place that is located in the heart of music in America — Louisiana — where there is always a place to learn and […]

Brittany Dacy

Back to 40 Under 40 Brittany Dacy Director of BandsWestwood High SchoolAustin, Texas The Westwood High School band’s mission statement is “Pride, Passion, Family,” which was established in 2017. Brittany Dacy, Director of Bands, talks about each of these three words, but spends the most time on family — and the Austin, Texas, band community […]

Ashley Cobb

Back to 40 Under 40 Ashley Cobb Elementary General Music TeacherCatawba Trail Elementary SchoolRichland School District 2Elgin, South Carolina How does Elementary General Music Teacher Ashley Cobb make music, songwriting and arrangements accessible to young students at Catawba Trail Elementary School in Elgin, South Carolina? “Options, options, options! I try to introduce students to a […]

Mary Claxton

Back to 40 Under 40 Mary Claxton Director of Teaching & Learning, Music WillAdjunct Professor, University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, Colorado Music Will is the largest nonprofit music program in the U.S. public school system that provides access to music education to 1.8 million students regardless of their socioeconomic background. Mary Claxton, Music Will’s Director of […]

Dr. Francis Cathlina

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Francis Cathlina Director of Choral ActivitiesUniversity of MemphisMemphis, Tennessee Preparation — relentless preparation — is the hallmark of Dr. Francis Cathlina’s work ethic as the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Memphis in Tennessee. “I outwork the room long before I enter it,” he says. “Scores are […]

Ben Byrom

Back to 40 Under 40 Ben Byrom Music TeacherRaleigh Oak Charter SchoolRaleigh, North Carolina Music Teacher Ben Byrom uses creativity to transform his classroom into a space of living music. He arrived at Raleigh Oak Charter School in North Carolina shortly after the height of the pandemic and found a community where music mattered deeply and […]

Zachary Arenz

Back to 40 Under 40 Zachary Arenz Instrumental and GeneralMusic TeacherFlower City School No. 54Rochester City School DistrictRochester, New York At the elementary school level, it’s important to show students that music belongs to and is for everyone. This belief is what the music program at Flower City School No. 54 in Rochester, New York, […]

Ryan Adair

Back to 40 Under 40 Ryan Adair Director of BandsSalem Hills High SchoolSalem, Utah Great programs are never built in isolation, according to Ryan Adair, Director of Bands at Salem Hills High School in Utah. “Our music program is built on trust, student ownership and community,” he says. “On my own, I am just one […]

40 Under 40 – 2026

2026 Yamaha “40 Under 40” — Celebrating Excellence in Music Education This marks the sixth year Yamaha has recognized 40 outstanding music educators under the age of 40 in the “40 Under 40” music education advocacy program. These outstanding teachers are making a difference by growing and strengthening their thriving music programs. These 40 educators […]

Liam Keller

Back to 40 Under 40 Ryan Adair Director of BandsSalem Hills High SchoolSalem, Utah Great programs are never built in isolation, according to Ryan Adair, Director of Bands at Salem Hills High School in Utah. “Our music program is built on trust, student ownership and community,” he says. “On my own, I am just one […]

Lilly Streich

Back to 40 Under 40 Lilly Streich 5-12 Vocal Music TeacherGalena Unit School DistrictGalena, Illinois Lilly Streich always knew she wanted to pursue music. She basically grew up in her father’s drum store, The Drum Pad, and remembers clinics at the store that featured some of the greatest drummers in the area. “I began taking […]

Dr. Aaron J. Witek

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Aaron J. Witek Assistant Professor of Trumpet, Coordinator of Brass and PercussionStetson UniversityDeLand, Florida Since Dr. Aaron J. Witek’s arrival at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, the trumpet studio has tripled in size and has attracted top-tier talent, including all-state-level musicians. The Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Coordinator of […]

Dr. Rachel Woolf

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Rachel Woolf Assistant Professor of Flute The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, Texas Thanks to Dr. Rachel Woolf’s enthusiasm and creative approach to teaching, the flute students at The University of Texas at San Antonio are described as being “on fire.” Woolf fosters student success by building […]

Kim Webb

Back to 40 Under 40 Kim Webb Director of Bands Greene County Tech School District Paragould, Arkansas As Director of Bands at Greene County Tech School District in Paragould, Arkansas, Kim Webb promotes the motto “Belong, Believe, Become” with her students. “Make everyone feel like they belong. Believe in yourself and in each other. Become […]

Riley Warren

Back to 40 Under 40 Riley Warren Director of Percussion, Assistant Band Director Forney High School Forney, Texas Several years after joining the Forney High School Band staff as Director of Percussion and Assistant Band Director, Riley Warren started the Forney ISD Middle School Indoor Drumline. “The beauty of this group is that it creates […]

Dr. Andrew Stetson

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Andrew Stetson Director, School of MusicTexas Tech University School of MusicLubbock, Texas Dr. Andrew Stetson, the Director of the School of Music at Texas Tech University, pioneered the Music Humanities program to engage students from diverse academic backgrounds and to highlight the importance of music as an essential tool […]

Michael Schnell

Back to 40 Under 40 Michael Schnell Middle School Band TeacherOostburg School DistrictOostburg, Wisconsin Because Oostburg High School and Oostburg Middle School share the same building, Michael Schnell, the Middle School Band Teacher, proposed starting a Music Production course for high school students. “One of my favorite classes when I was in high school was […]

Annie Ray

Back to 40 Under 40 Annie Ray Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department ChairAnnandale High School,Annandale,Virginia Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department Chair Annie Ray launched the Crescendo Orchestra for students with significant and severe disabilities at Annandale High School in Virginia. The seeds of the orchestra started in 2017, when twin brothers with significant […]

Joshua Race

Back to 40 Under 40 Joshua Race Director of Bands Fountain-Fort Carson High School, Fountain, Colorado In Joshua Race’s classes at Fountain-Fort Carson High School in Colorado, students learn more than music — they become more aware of their own thought processes. The Director of Bands uses metacognitive strategies to help students reflect on their […]

Nicholas Popovich

Back to 40 Under 40 Nicholas Popovich Music Technology TeacherShadow Mountain High SchoolPhoenix, Arizona Paradise Valley Unified District in Arizona offers an arts academy, North Valley Arts Academies (NVAA), where K-12 students at Desert Cove Elementary School, Shea Middle School and Shadow Mountain High School can take courses in dance, theater, visual art and music […]

Kate Phillips

Back to 40 Under 40 Kate Phillips PK-5 Music TeacherGrant Avenue Elementary SchoolBronx, New York Before it was popular, Kate Phillips, Grant Avenue Elementary School’s PK-5 Music Teacher, was implementing culturally responsive lessons in her classroom. “As a white teacher originally from a suburban Midwest community, it is essential that my Bronx students engage with […]

Adam Odenwelder

Back to 40 Under 40 Adam Odenwelder Guitar Teacher Belmont Ridge Middle School Leesburg, Virginia There is no status quo for the guitar program at Belmont Ridge Middle School in Leesburg, Virginia, led by Adam Odenwelder. “I’m constantly changing things in order to meet the needs of my students in new and exciting ways,” he […]

Leah Motl

Back to 40 Under 40 Leah Motl Orchestra Teacher IJ Holton Intermediate School Austin, Minnesota The orchestra program at IJ Holton Intermediate School in Austin, Minnesota, has grown in numbers and, more importantly, in students’ passion for music. That’s because Orchestra Teacher Leah Motl encourages and motivates her students in several ways. “Praise progress often,” […]

Kevin Morrison

Back to 40 Under 40 Kevin Morrison Director of BandsLambert High SchoolSuwanee, Georgia Kevin Morrison, the Director of Bands at Lambert High School in Suwanee, Georgia, goes above and beyond to educate the community — especially potential band parents — about the school’s band program. “We use a variety of tools since most of our […]

Coty Raven Morris

Back to 40 Under 40 Coty Raven Morris Hinckley Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education and Social JusticePortland State UniversityPortland, Oregon As the Hinckley Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education and Social Justice at Portland State University in Oregon, Coty Raven Morris says that she “has the privilege of teaching and working with a multitude […]

Christopher McCurdy

Back to 40 Under 40 Christopher McCurdy Band DirectorUlysses S. Grant High SchoolPortland, Oregon Band Director Christopher McCurdy believes in a group-first mindset, and he vigorously advocates for it at Ulysses S. Grant High School in Portland, Oregon. “Every student deserves an accessible and comprehensive music education no matter where or when they start,” he […]

Orien Landis

Back to 40 Under 40 Orien Landis Director of BandsAmerican Fork High SchoolAmerican Fork, Utah Many people describe their programs as student-led, but at American Fork High School in Utah, the marching band is just that. According to Director of Bands Orien Landis, “Our student leadership team essentially runs the band program. During the marching […]

Shan Kazmi

Back to 40 Under 40 Shan Kazmi Director of BandsZion-Benton Township High School Zion, Illinois Working at a Title I school like Zion-Benton Township High School can be challenging, but Director of Bands Shan Kazmi only sees the positives. “Our students are great. I know people will say that kids are the same everywhere, but […]

Zane Kaiser

Back to 40 Under 40 Zane Kaiser Band and Orchestra TeacherJustice Page Middle School, Minneapolis Public SchoolsMinneapolis, Minnesota When Zane Kaiser started as the Band and Orchestra Teacher at Justice Page Middle School in Minneapolis, the music program had no budget allocated to it. In the seven years since, Kaiser has built the program and […]

Cody Jackson

Back to 40 Under 40 Cody Jackson Band DirectorHeights Middle School Farmington, New Mexico Band Director Cody Jackson began his tenure at Heights Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico, in the fall of 2020, when the pandemic was at its height and all classes were virtual. He inherited a program of approximately 84 students, all […]

Alex Hitrick

Back to 40 Under 40 Alex Hitrick 7-12 Music Teacher Broadalbin-Perth Jr./Sr. High SchoolBroadalbin, New York Alex Hitrick began teaching at Broadalbin-Perth Jr./Sr. High School, during the attempt to return to normalcy post-COVID in September 2020. The enrollment numbers were pretty dismal. “I had about 20 students in middle school chorus and 12 in high […]

Dr. Cordara X. Harper

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Cordara X. Harper Assistant Professor of Music Education, Choir Director, Music Education Coordinator, Vocal Music CoordinatorGrambling State UniversityGrambling, Louisiana The Grambling State University Concert Choir was founded in 1947 as a glee club. Over its 78-year history, the choir has released two acclaimed albums and garnered significant recognition. Its […]

Bob Habersat

Back to 40 Under 40 Bob Habersat Director, ShedthemusicCommercial Music TeacherOak Lawn Community High SchoolOak Lawn, Illinois Bob Habersat, the Commercial Music Teacher at Oak Lawn Community High School in Illinois, first started recording instructional videos to help his piano students grasp concepts like the bass clef when they missed class. “This allowed them to […]

Dr. Liliana Guerrero

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Liliana Guerrero Assistant Professor of VoiceButler School of Music. University of Texas, AustinAustin, Texas During Dr. Liliana Guerrero’s year as a Teaching Artist for the Austin Opera, she went to local elementary schools to introduce students to the concept of opera by telling them stories, singing some arias and […]

Marissa Guarriello

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Marissa Guarriello Visiting Assistant Professor of String Music EducationUniversity of North CarolinaGreensboro, North Carolina Last summer, as the Director of Music Programming for ArtsQuest, Dr. Marissa Guarriello helped organize a new conference for music educators. “Some of the senior leadership at ArtsQuest was interested in starting a conference for […]

Paul Glader

Back to 40 Under 40 Paul Glader Band and Choir DirectorBethel-Tate Middle SchoolBethel, Ohio Band and Choir Director Paul Glader put his classroom motto on the wall for all his students at Bethel-Tate Middle School in Ohio to see: 1) be kind, 2) strive to be better and 3) love music. “That means having the […]

Lee B. Gibson

Back to 40 Under 40 Lee B. Gibson Assistant Director of BandsBarberton CIty Schools,Barberton, Ohio Lee B. Gibson, the Assistant Director of Bands at Barberton City Schools in Ohio, knows how music education can transform lives. Something as basic as putting instruments in the hands of students can seem to be an insurmountable obstacle. Luckily, […]

Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster Assistant Professor of Practice of Music EducationVirginia TechBlacksburg, Virginia Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster, Assistant Professor of Practice of Music Education at Virginia Tech, saw a need to help and coalesce music teachers in rural areas, so she co-founded the Rural Band Director Alliance (RBDA). “It started […]

Dr. Sarah Fabian

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Sarah Fabian Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of MusicGardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, North Carolina When Dr. Sarah Fabian, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands, arrived at Gardner-Webb University in Bolling Springs, North Carolina, she revamped the recruitment strategy. She visited high schools, attended music festivals and met with […]

Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich Associate Professor of Music Education and FluteSlippery Rock UniversitySlippery Rock, Pennsylvania Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich, Associate Professor of Music Education and Flute, founded a win-win initiative at Slippery Rock University (SRU) in Pennsylvania that bridges the gap between the school and the surrounding community. SRU’s Early Childhood and […]

Laura Del Rosso

Back to 40 Under 40 Laura Del Rosso Modern Band TeacherLower Manhattan Community Middle School, New York City Public SchoolsNew York, New York “My program is fueled on community and joy,” says Laura Del Rosso, Modern Band Teacher at Lower Manhattan Community Middle School in New York. “I believe that music-making should be FUN, from […]

Lindsay Cummings

Back to 40 Under 40 Lindsay Cummings Artist Faculty, Musical Theatre Voice, The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt UniversityProfessor of Musical Theatre Voice, Loyola University Chicago. Owner of Chicago Music & Acting Academy Executive Director and Founder of Downstage Art Expressing artistry is at the core of the teaching philosophy of Lindsay Cummings, […]

Tanatchaya “Tanya” Chanphanitpornkit

Back to 40 Under 40 Tanatchaya Chanphanitpornkit Director of OrchestrasNyack High School, New YorkLecturer of Music Education, Brooklyn CollegeMusic Director, Crescendo Orchestra of New York Youth Symphony According to Tanatchaya “Tanya” Chanphanitpornkit, the Director of Orchestras at Nyack High School in New York, her main goal with her students is building more than just musical […]

Dr. Gene Butler

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Gene Butler Director of BandsSmiths Station High SchoolSmiths Station, Alabama Dr. Gene Butler is only the third Director of Bands at Smiths Station High School in Alabama since 1972. The other two — Mr. Rick Teel and Dr. Rusty Courson — were Butler’s band directors during his middle school […]

Nick Blue

Back to 40 Under 40 Nick Blue Assistant Director of BandsFranklin High SchoolFranklin, Tennessee Nick Blue was recently named the Assistant Director of Bands at Franklin High School in Tennessee. The school’s band is a seven-time Tennessee State Marching Band Champion and has marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade, twice in the Macy’s Thanksgiving […]

Michael Blanco

Back to 40 Under 40 Michael Blanco Assistant Director of MariachiLas Vegas High SchoolLas Vegas, Nevada Imagine being invited to perform at the White House with your ensemble! That’s what happened to Michael Blanco, Assistant Director of Mariachi at Las Vegas High School. In the fall of 2024, Mariachi Joya, the school’s award-winning group, was […]

Erin Barra

Back to 40 Under 40 Erin Barra Executive Director, We Make Noise Assistant Professor and Director of the Popular Music ProgramArizona State University Empowerment is a core value for Erin Barra, the Executive Director of We Make Noise and an Assistant Professor and Director of the Popular Music Program at Arizona State University. “Empowerment seeps […]

Evan Aguilar

Back to 40 Under 40 Evan Aguilar Director of Choral and Piano Activities Cibola High SchoolAlbuquerque Public SchoolsNew Mexico Collaboration is a key component of Evan Aguilar’s music program at Cibola High School in New Mexico. As the Director of Choral and Piano Activities at Cibola as well as at Albuquerque Public Schools, Aguilar has […]

40 Under 40 – 2025

2025 Yamaha “40 Under 40” — Music Education Excellence Yamaha launched the “40 Under 40” music education advocacy program in 2021 to celebrate and recognize outstanding young music educators who are making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs. Now, we celebrate our fifth group of remarkable educators whose classrooms are safe spaces […]

Jacob Abbott

Back to 40 Under 40 Jacob Abbott Performing Arts DirectorDresden High SchoolDresden, Tennessee The music program at Dresden High School in Tennessee went from “zero to hero” in the time that Jacob Abbott has served as its Performing Arts Director. Before Abbott came to Dresden, there was only one Music Appreciation class offered. Now, there […]

Dr. Jessica Vaughan-Marra

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Jessica Vaughan-Marra Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music EducationSeton Hill UniversityGreensburg, Pennsylvania When Dr. Jessica Vaughan-Marra started her undergraduate degree in music education at Duquesne University in 2002, she envisioned teaching beginning instrumentalists for her whole career. As she journeyed into music teacher education, her view changed. […]

Kyle D. Phillips

Back to 40 Under 40 Kyle D. Phillips Band DirectorPrinceton High SchoolCincinnati, Ohio During the 2020 season, Princeton High School Band Director Kyle D. Phillips saw half of his students every other week, which made it extremely difficult to rehearse marching band and it also limited performance opportunities. Because of the pandemic, the already abbreviated […]

Kevin Longwill

Back to 40 Under 40 Kevin Longwill Music Industry Teacher, Director of Modern Music Makers (M3)Abington School DistrictAbington, Pennsylvania During the pandemic, Music Industry Teacher Kevin Longwill started Modern Music Makers (M3) so that Abington School District students could continue to make music with their friends by recording projects using a cloud-based digital audio workstation […]

Julie Anne Russell

Back to 40 Under 40 Julie Anne Russell Orchestra DirectorBlythewood High SchoolBlythewood, South Carolina Blythewood High School Orchestra Director Julie Anne Russell has found several ways to bridge the gap between middle school and high school orchestra programs. First, she reconnected with colleague Netta Hadari to perform his piece, “Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks […]

Matthew Rupert

Back to 40 Under 40 Matthew Rupert Co-Founder, Clarinet/Piano Faculty, Little Mission StudioCo-Founder, President of the Board, Make More Music FoundationSan Francisco, California Little Mission Studio launched in 2014 to help meet the need for quality music education in San Francisco. Matthew Rupert and the other co-founders of the studio had been teaching privately out […]

Ben Pedersen

Back to 40 Under 40 Ben Pedersen Director of BandsForeman College and Career AcademyChicago, Illinois In Fall 2020, Ben Pedersen was hired as the Director of Bands at Foreman College and Career Academy to restart the band program, which had been dormant for years. He spent the summer before inventorying equipment and watching hours of […]

Cale Patton

Back to 40 Under 40 Cale Patton Music TeacherGillespie Technology Magnet Cluster SchoolChicago, Illinois In 2011, Cale Patton started teaching at Dawes Elementary School, part of the Chicago Public Schools system. At that point, music consisted of music on a cart with no instruments and certainly no ensembles. She spent over a decade building a […]

Dr. Stephen C. Page

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Stephen C. Page Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Undergraduate StudiesThe University of Texas at Austin Butler School of MusicAustin, Texas It’s safe to say that if you’re a student of Dr. Stephen Page, Associate Professor of Saxophone at The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of […]

Allison Paetz

Back to 40 Under 40 Allison Paetz Vocal Music TeacherRocky River High SchoolRocky River, Ohio Rocky River High School’s Vocal Music Teacher Allison Paetz enlists the community and engages students when teaching global music. “I love performing music from all over the world, but I am certainly not an expert in every culture,” she says. […]

Christopher Noce

Back to 40 Under 40 Christopher Noce Director of Bands and OrchestrasConcord-Carlisle High SchoolConcord, Massachusetts “No cowards” may be a strange message to share with students, but Director of Bands and Orchestras Christopher Noce uses that phrase for students to know that they can safely and confidently make mistakes during rehearsals. “The biggest difference between […]

Alex Mutz

Back to 40 Under 40 Alex Mutz director of bandsSam L. Martin Middle SchoolAustin, Texas The band at Sam L. Martin Middle School has a large Hispanic population with many coming from Central and South America who speak little English. Over 92% of band members are economically disadvantaged and a large portion have at least […]

Adam Murray

Back to 40 Under 40 Adam Murray Orchestra Director, Music Department ChairPort Clinton City SchoolsPort Clinton, Ohio Small schools don’t mean weak music programs! That’s the mantra often repeated by Orchestra Director and Music Department Chair Adam Murray, who teaches at Port Clinton City Schools, a small district with about 85 students in the orchestra […]

Kimberly Kraft McLemore

Back to 40 Under 40 Kimberly Kraft McLemore Vice President of Education and Community EngagementNashville SymphonyNashville, Tennessee The Nashville Symphony’s education programming is designed to support the city’s students and educators and provide experiences that supplement and enhance the school curriculum. “We are always eager to collaborate and design new programming with our city to […]

Andrew Muth

Back to 40 Under 40 Andrew Muth Director of Bands and Director of Performing ArtsWestfield High SchoolWestfield, Indiana Westfield High School’s music program was in dire need of revitalization. That’s when Director of Bands and Performing Arts Andrew Muth stepped in. “A successful program isn’t built in a day or a single year. We knew […]

Kacee Sanders

Back to 40 Under 40 Kacee Sanders Band Director, DuPont Hadley Middle SchoolExecutive Director, Southeastern Women in Music SymposiumTennessee Band Director Kacee Sanders is a firm believer in building independent musicians where her only role in the classroom is to act as a facilitator. The goal is for her students at DuPont Hadley Middle School […]

Dr. Jessie M. Vallejo

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Jessie M. Vallejo Associate Professor of EthnomusicologyCalifornia State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, California How difficult is it to teach music in a STEM-focused school like California State Polytechnic University, Pomona? Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology Dr. Jessie M. Vallejo finds it enjoyable to teach courses that foster creativity, problem-solving, beauty, social […]

Dr. Paulina Villarreal

Back to 40 Under 40 Dr. Paulina Villarreal Assistant Professor of VoiceUniversity of Memphis, Rudi E. Scheidt School of MusicMemphis, TennesseeFounder and Artistic Director, Cantos para el Mundo Like most higher education institutions, the song repertoire curriculum at the University of Memphis focused on “standard” Western classical repertoire. When Dr. Paulina Villarreal joined the faculty […]

Christopher Lape

Back to 40 Under 40 Christopher Lape Orchestra DirectorUpper Arlington High SchoolUpper Arlington, Ohio At Upper Arlington High School, Orchestra Director Christopher Lape took the lead in adapting the curriculum from every other day to everyday instruction. “It’s been a collaborative and continuing effort with my colleagues,” he explains. “There’s significantly more room for growth […]