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 where musicality, creativity and innovation thrive.
These 40 educators — all under the age of 40 — showcase the following characteristics: action (anticipate what needs to be done and proactively take the necessary steps that lead to a stronger music program), courage (propose and implement new or bold ideas), creativity (show innovation and imagination in achieving plans and objectives) and growth (establish, grow or improve music education in their schools and communities).
We received hundreds of nominations from students and parents, teachers and administrators, local instrument dealers and mentors. The 40 educators below emphasize care and compassion with their students above all else as they elevate music and music-making in their schools and communities — like Dr. Liliana Guerrero, who introduces opera to elementary school students; Annie Ray, who started an orchestra for students with significant and severe disabilities; Michael Blanco, who took his award-winning mariachi ensemble to the White House to perform for President Joe Biden; Coty Raven Morris, who designed a houseless choir in her community; and Laura Del Rosso, who started a Saturday program to introduce middle school students to popular music education.
All the “40 Under 40” educators have remarkable stories , and you’ll be inspired by all of them.
Join us in applauding the 2025 class of “40 Under 40” educators.
Meet the 2024 “40 Under 40” Educators
Meet the 2023 “40 Under 40” Educators
Meet the 2022 “40 Under 40” Educators
Meet the 2021 “40 Under 40” Educators
Top Photo by Shutterstock/Malikova Nina

Evan Aguilar
Cibola High School
Albuquerque Public Schools
New Mexico

Erin Barra
Assistant Professor and Director of the Popular Music Program
Arizona State University

Tanatchaya Chanphanit-
pornkit
Nyack High School, New York
Lecturer of Music Education, Brooklyn College
Music Director, Crescendo Orchestra of NYYS

Lindsay Cummings
Owner, Chicago Music & Acting Academy
Executive Director and Founder, Downstage Arts

Laura Del Rosso
Lower Manhattan Community Middle School, New York City Public Schools
New York, New York

Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Dr. Sarah Fabian
Gardner-Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina

Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Dr. Marissa Guarriello
University of North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina

Dr. Liliana Guerrero
Butler School of Music. University of Texas, Austin
Austin, Texas

Bob Habersat
Commercial Music Teacher
Oak Lawn Community High School
Oak Lawn, Illinois

Dr. Cordara X. Harper
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana

Zane Kaiser
Justice Page Middle School, Minneapolis Public Schools
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Liam Keller
Chatham High School, Lafayette Avenue School
Chatham, New Jersey

Coty Raven Morris
Portland State University
Portland, Oregon

Annie Ray
Annandale High School,
Annandale,Virginia

Dr. Andrew Stetson
Texas Tech University School of Music
Lubbock, Texas

Riley Warren
Forney High School
Forney, Texas

Dr. Aaron J. Witek
Stetson University
DeLand, Florida

Dr. Rachel Woolf
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas