As Mahlmann Prepares to Leave MENC, A Look Back at His Legacy

John J. Mahlmann, MENC executive director, announced his resignation at the October 2009 meeting of the MENC National Executive Board (NEB). He has served at the MENC helm for nearly 27 years.

During his tenure, which represents more than a quarter of MENC’s existence, Mahlmann led the organization through a period of substantial membership growth and transformed the landscape of music education through innovative programs and vigorous advocacy.

Initiatives launched since his hiring in 1983 include

• Developing the K–12 National Standards for Music Education
• Adoption of the Tri-M Music Honor Society as an MENC-managed program
• Grassroots advocacy for music education
• New publications, including Teaching Music
• The National Anthem Project
• MENC’s Centennial celebration in 2007

The photos below reflect Mahlmann’s work to raise MENC’s public visibility and to foster partnerships with other arts partners to further the cause of school music education programs.

The MENC National Executive Board has hired a search firm to begin the process of selecting candidates for MENC executive director. An announcement is expected by April 2010. Additional information about the executive director search will be posted at menc.org/news.

Click on any thumbnail below to view the full-size photo. Photos by Becky Spray, Rosalind C. Fehr and from MENC archives.

-Roz Fehr, February 4, 2010 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education