Articles Tagged As 2022
40 Under 40 – 2022
2022 Yamaha “40 Under 40” — Celebrating Excellence in Music Education
Last year, Yamaha launched the “40 Under 40” music education advocacy program to celebrate and recognize outstanding music educators who are making a difference by growing and strengthening their music programs. Now, we celebrate the 2022 group of remarkable educators who triumphed before and during the pandemic to keep their programs thriving.
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, parents, other teachers and administrators, local instrument dealers and mentors. The selected “40 Under 40” educators below have gone above and beyond to elevate music and music-making in their students’ lives — like Terry Nguyen, who shares traditional Japanese and Asian cutural and traditional arts, especially taiko drumming; Jennifer Stadler, who incorporates fun games and technology into her lessons at her private piano studio; Amanda Schoolland, whose music program honors the culture and traditions of the Tsimshian people who live in the small Alaska town of Metlakatla where she teaches; Alexander Wilga, who coordinated a proposal that secured guaranteed funding for music programs across his district; and Kenneth Perkins, who started a faculty and staff choir at his elementary school.
All the “40 Under 40” educators have remarkable stories behind their teaching philosophies and methods, and you’ll be inspired by all of them.
Join us in appluading the 2022 class of “40 Under 40” educators.
Dr. Justin Antos
Director of Bands and Orchestras
Dwight D. Eisenhower High School
Blue Island, Illinois
Dr. Cassandra Bechard
Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of Music
University of Northwestern St. Paul
St. Paul, Minnesota
Dr. Robert Bryant
Music Education Coordinator,
Assistant Professor of Music
Tennessee State University
Nashville, Tennessee
Danielle Collins
Director of Music, Media, Entertainment Technology (MMET) Department
Academy for the Performing Arts
Huntington Beach High School
Huntington Beach, California
Dr. Nathan Dame
Director of Choral Activities,
Fine Arts Department Chair
Wylie East High School
Wylie, Texas
Brandon Felder
Fine Arts Music Director
SHABACH! K-8 Christian Academy
Landover, Maryland
Music Director
Georgetown University Gospel Choir
Washington, D.C.
Bryson Finney
Artistic Director, We Are Nashville Festival
Learning Technology Specialist
Metro Nashville Public Schools
Nashville, Tennessee
Alain Goindoo
Director of Bands, Jeaga Middle School
West Palm Beach, Florida
Executive Director, Hope Symphony INC
Jayme Hayes
Director of Bands
Mayberry Cultural and Fine Arts
Magnet Middle School
Wichita, Kansas
Dr. Jonathan Helmick
Director of Bands,
Associate Professor of Music,
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
Damon Knepper
Director of Bands and Orchestras
Ironwood Ridge High School
Oro Valley, Arizona
Tracy Meldrum
Director of Bands, Fine Arts Department Chair
Verrado High School
Buckeye, Arizona
Dr. Justin John Moniz
Associate Director of Vocal Performance,
Coordinator of Vocal Pedagogy
New York University — The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development
New York, New York
Bryant Montalvo
Music Teacher, Choir Director
Central Falls High School
Central Falls, Rhode Island
Joel Pohland
Band Director (8-12),
Assistant Band Director (5-7)
Pierz Healy High School
Pierz, Minnesota
Amanda Schoolland
Music Director, Computer Coding Instructor
Metlakatla High School
Metlakatla, Alaska
Jennifer Stadler
Independent Piano Teacher
Jennifer Stadler’s Piano Studio
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Mark Stanford
Director of Bands, Music Teacher
Springfield High School
Springfield, Pennsylvania
Armond Walter
Director of Instrumental Music
Meadville Area Middle School
Meadville Area Senior High School
Meadville, Pennsylvania
