Nazareth University’s School of Music earned several honors this spring for both its dedication to music education and performance excellence of its Chamber Singers.
The University’s chapter of the National Association for Music Education, or NAfME, received national recognition as a 2023 NAfME Collegiate Chapter of Excellence recipient in the professional development category recognizing outstanding student-led contributions to music education.
“This is a significant achievement for the state of New York, Nazareth University, and our School of Music,” said music education professor Keith Koster, Ph.D., who has served as advisor of the Nazareth NAfME chapter for 23 years. “What has especially resonated with our students is the charge to become Changemakers, agents of change, who will empower young people through music and will also lead the next generation of music educators.”
Koster handed over the NAfME advising duties to Assistant Professor of Music Rich Tilley this past year, and Tilley received the award on behalf of Nazareth at the 2023 NAfME National Leadership Assembly in Reston, Virginia, in late June.
Several students in Nazareth’s NAfME chapter also serve in New York state NAfME leadership positions: Austin Stroup, president-elect; Adrianna Massaro, secretary-treasurer; Emily Overacker, Province 2 representative.
Chamber Singers to perform at NYSSMA Conference
The Nazareth University Chamber Singers will perform at the New York State School Music Association Winter Conference in December in downtown Rochester, N.Y. The state music educators’ association annual convention brings together musicians and music educators from all across New York. “The Chamber Singers’ acceptance was based on a blind, juried selection that included recordings from this past year,“ said Eric Rubinstein, Nazareth’s director of choral activities, and we are so honored that the students have been recognized.”
Julie Long | Senior News & PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
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Nazareth NAfME student members and School of Music professors at the NYSSMA conference in Rochester in winter 2023. Left to right: Austin Stroup; Keith Koster, Ph.D.; Jonathan Benn; Kara Boldt; Anthony Wynings; Emily Overacker; Rich Tilley, Ph.D.