Press Release - MENC: The National Association for Music Education Announces the 2005 Lowell Mason Fellows

MENC: The National Association for Music Education Announces the 2005 Lowell Mason Fellows

Distinguished Individuals are Recipients of Prestigious Honor Named for Founder of American Music Education

RESTON, VA (March 10, 2006) ” MENC: The National Association for Music Education announced the individuals designated Lowell Mason Fellows for 2005. This honor, named after Lowell Mason (1792-1872), who is credited with introducing music instruction to American public schools and establishing teacher training in music education, is bestowed upon outstanding music educators or advocates. The 2005 Fellows were recognized in a ceremony on March 9, 2006 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. They are:

Arthur C. Bartner, Director of Bands, University of Southern California; designated by The Walt Disney Company.
Laura Bergin, Vice President, Sales, Rhythm Band Instruments; designated by John Mahlmann and Ruth Ann Knapp.
Bob Bergin, President, Rhythm Band Instruments; designated by Carroll Rinehart and Kay Logan.
Michael Blakeslee, Deputy Executive Director, MENC; designated by Fred Wheeler.
Barbara Geer, North Carolina Music Educators Association Past President, MENC Southern Division Past President; designated by the High School Choral Section of the North Carolina Music Educators Association.
Wynne J. Harrell, Missouri Music Educators Association Past President, MENC Southwest Division Past President; designated by Aurelia W. Hartenberger, Belva Pather, Norma McClellan, Jerry Hoover, John G. Patterson, Charles "Bill" Maupin.
Ruth Ann Knapp, Michigan Music Educators Association Past President; designated by John Mahlmann, Marlynn Likens, Judith Reinhardt, Daniel L. Steele, Randi L™Hommedieu, Peg Van Haaren.
Charles T. Menghini, Associate Professor, President and Director of Bands, VanderCook College of Music; designated by George Quinlan, Jr.
David Steinmeyer, trombonist and clinician; designated by Tom Lee.
Rich Taylor, Vice President, Walt Disney World Entertainment and Costuming; designated by The Walt Disney Company.

Lowell Mason Fellows are individuals who have furthered MENC: The National Association for Music Education™s mission of ensuring accessibility to a quality music education for all. Music educators, music education advocates, political leaders, and key decision makers are eligible for designation. The names of the Fellows are permanently displayed at MENC headquarters in Reston, VA.

"This honor and recognition is one of the highest awards MENC can bestow on individuals who have made significant contributions to music education in our nation," said David Circle, president of MENC. "Their names may not be well known outside the world of music education but their dedication to and accomplishments in music have benefitted thousands of students."

For more information, call MENC at 1-800-336-3768 or visit www.menc.org.

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world™s largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 120,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC™s activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.

###