“I chose Nazareth because it offered the only master’s program in New York specializing in both performance and pedagogy. I wanted to develop my skills to teach piano students in a private studio. But at Nazareth, I was inspired to pursue a doctoral degree in piano pedagogy, to teach at the collegiate level. The Nazareth faculty provided a wealth of expertise and diverse experiences. Exceptional mentorship by my Naz piano professor, Dr. Jacob Ertl, was instrumental in helping me reach my full potential as a pianist, and he supported me throughout the application and audition processes for doctoral programs. My ultimate goal as an educator is to help students understand that music is more than just notes on a page; it is about experiencing, embodying, and internalizing sound, movement, and expression.”

— Anna Grace Dunbar ’23G, doctoral candidate in piano pedagogy and music education at the University of Oklahoma, the most prestigious university for this degree