About Yamaha Staff

Yamaha wants to recognize and celebrate the top 40 music educators under 40 years old. Nominate an exceptional music teacher today! 

Among the quarterfinalists and legacy finalists for the 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award are nine Yamaha “40 Under 40” music educators from 2021 and 2022.

Mirian Conti is part of the faculty of the Evening Division of The Juilliard School in New York City. Her passion for helping young pianists across the world inspired her involvement in education, and she integrates new technology including the Disklavier in her teaching. Conti approaches keyboard pedagogy by teaching how to play the piano while […]

Frederic Chiu is an Assistant Professor of Piano at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He believes that piano playing embodies the best of humanity and sees the world of keyboard pedagogy through a lens of “Body/Mind/Heart.” Chiu embraces what at first glance may appear to be nontraditional techniques, including cooking and meditation, but these […]

Andrea McAlister is an Associate Professor of Piano Pedagogy at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio, the Director of Digital Content for the Frances Clark Center and the Senior Editor of Piano Magazine. McAlister embraces the magic of communicating through music and cherishes the opportunity to help students learn to play piano. She engages her […]

World-renowned composer and pianist Phillip Keveren is the co-author of the Hal Leonard Student Piano Library. The fundamental principle behind Keveren’s highly circulated educational piano music is “simple is best.” Striving to understand what students are hoping to feel in each piece, Keveren focuses on the educational experience behind the music he’s writing. To do […]

At The University of Texas at San Antonio, Dr. Stan Renard is an assistant professor of Music Marketing; assistant director of the Center for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CITE); and the director of the Arts Incubation Research Lab. Performer, researcher and multi-lingual presenter, Renard’s international and diverse background come into play in leading the Music Marketing Program at the […]

Pamela Pike is the Herndon Spillman Professor of Piano Pedagogy at Louisiana State University and the editor-in-chief and chief content director for Piano Magazine. Pike is a highly respected and upbeat voice in expanding the world of keyboard pedagogy, and she stresses the importance of understanding the needs of diverse students in all stages of […]

Serona Elton is a professor and director of the Music Business and Entertainment Industries Program at University of Miami Frost School of Music. She is also the Head of Educational Partnerships at The Mechanical Licensing Collective. A vivacious, captivating presenter, Elton becomes utterly energized when working with young collegiates who view themselves as tomorrow’s music business […]

Dr. Jeffrey Nytch is the director of the Entrepreneurship Center for Music at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Leading music students to understand the realities of earning a sustainable income through performance is a vital task for music educators. Relatively few orchestral openings exist and applied teaching positions at universities are scarce as well. Nytch walked […]

Dr. Donny Gruendler is the vice president of music education at Guitar Center. A self-proclaimed troublemaker in his own right, Gruendler learned firsthand how impactful music can be when he joined the stage band in 6th grade and was immediately transformed into an exemplary student who would eventually make music his life’s work. Gruendler subscribes […]

Dr. David Cutler is a distinguished professor of music and director of music entrepreneurship at the University of South Carolina. He is also the author of “The Savvy Musician” and “The Savvy Music Teacher,” as well as an upcoming visual book, “The GAME of Innovation.” No matter the organization — public or private — a […]

Omar Thomas is an assistant professor of composition at The University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music. He is helping educators rethink the way that they can build non-exclusionary curricula.  Feet firmly planted in the multiple worlds of music, Thomas is a leading voice in the belief that genres like classical and jazz […]

Michael Pote, an award-winning band director and highly sought-after speaker, clearly demonstrates that success in a large, high-profile program stems from understanding and utilizing the strengths of everyone involved. He equips students with the musical tools necessary to guarantee achievement at the highest level. Under his leadership, Carmel High School in Indiana has garnered national recognition, […]

The ultimate goal for beginning band students is the devel­op­ment of skills and under­standing that enable the student to experience musical artistry. Marguerite Wilder’s innovative, game-filled approach to teaching fundamentals help set students on a strong path toward success. This technique helps teachers monitor individual progress while providing the students with a comprehensive, rigorous and […]

Dr. Emily Threinen is director of bands and associate professor of music at University of Minnesota. She consistently works with composers, arrangers and performing artists of varied disciplines.  Residencies and projects with composers and new compositions are integral to her creative work. She is an active and in-demand guest conductor, clinician, conference presenter and performer. […]

Dr. Kevin Sedatole is director of bands, professor of music and chair of the conducting area at Michigan State University.  He serves as administrator of the entire band program at Michigan State University, totaling over 700 students, which includes the wind symphony, symphony band, concert band, chamber winds, campus bands, Spartan Marching Band and Spartan […]

Dynamic, energetic, exciting — these are the words used to describe Marcia Neel, one of the most knowledgeable professionals in the field of music education today.  This began years ago when she was a secondary music educator whose ensembles were known for consistent quality and attention to artistic detail. She has carried that philosophy and […]

With a broad and diverse arsenal of experiences spanning over five decades, Anthony Maiello‘s enthusiasm for teaching music is nothing short of contagious.  Having taught instrumental music education from the grade-school level through the university doctoral level, both in the United States and aboard, his experiences give him a unique view and approach to teaching […]

A multi-faceted artist, Gary Lewis has done it all — from jazz performance and marching band, to musical theater and opera, to arranging for a variety of genres.  He has also been involved in entrepreneurial efforts such as establishing a contemporary music festival. With such diverse experiences, Lewis lives his belief that music serves as […]

Having appeared as a guest conductor throughout the world, Craig Kirchhoff brings a deep understanding of both traditional and contemporary literature to his sessions, including one titled “Score Study: A Different Perspective.” With a celebrated teaching career spanning decades, Kirchhoff is professor emeritus of conducting at the University of Minnesota and remains true to his […]

Whether conducting a group of professionals or students, Jerry Junkin is committed to ensuring that musicians under his baton make an emotional connection to the music. This comes, in part, as a result of choosing the exact, right piece of repertoire for the ensemble, as well as delving into the intent of the composer to […]

Students, leadership, excellence and passion — the core of Barry Houser‘s teaching, as well as his working with directors, is based on the intermingling of these four components. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he is the associate director of bands, director of the Marching Illini and the director of athletic bands, Houser […]

Jeffrey Grogan is an internationally known conductor and teacher who is dedicated to pursuing his craft and sharing the joy of musical excellence with young musicians.  His early teaching experience taught him the importance of “getting to work,” teaching grades 6-12 in a very small town. He quickly learned how to manage it all — […]

Inspired by his own high school band director, Larry Gookin‘s primary focus when conducting wind bands of any level is for the performers to “say something.”  Mere perfection of the technical aspects of performance is simply not enough — the musicians must make a personal connection to the music, which results in an expressive, musical […]

Kevin Ford has two strong tenants that guide his work as the director of bands and the founder/director of the Leadership Conservatory for the Arts at Tarpon Springs High School in Florida. First, he assists his students, and their families in understanding the connection between the artistic and music-making processes, and growing as individuals to […]

Richard Floyd is the state director of music emeritus at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a recognized authority on the art and craft of teaching and making music.  He is an ideal director for honor ensembles or lecturer at staff development days and MEA events. Floyd specializes in challenging student ensembles and […]

Cheryl Floyd is at home presenting on any instrumental music topic. But as the retired director of bands at Hill Country Middle School in Austin, Texas, she shines especially bright in the realm of “all things middle school.” At this incredibly challenging, yet significantly crucial, time in the lives of young music students, she consistently […]

With a dynamic and engaging teaching style, Douglas Droste brings a level of enthusiasm to orchestral rehearsals, which stems from his determination to achieve musical success for every student, at every level, in every ensemble.  He is passionate about this approach and takes full responsibility for ensuring that students are motivated to perform at the highest […]

Dr. Rodney Dorsey‘s expertise in music education stems from a diverse background of experiences, which include teaching at multiple distinct public high schools as well as directing college ensembles for decades. As an African American band director, Dorsey knows what it means and how it feels to be a minority — a unique and motivating […]

Dr. Travis J. Cross is the chair of the department of music at UCLA, where he conducts the wind ensemble and symphonic band and directs the graduate wind conducting program. His diverse areas of expertise make Cross an ideal presenter for any session designed to enhance the skills of the earnest band director. For example, […]

In his inspirational and practical presentations, Daniel Berard, the assistant director of bands at Wakeland High School in Frisco, Texas, shares his experience of starting with nothing but a blank piece of paper and a vision.  He helped build support systems comprised of community members and parents to create a thriving program. He brings knowledge […]