Tag Archives: Music Teachers

Teachers who specialized in music.

Music educator Nora “Darlene” Mawson Helman honored by DKG

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Music educator Nora “Darlene” Mawson Helman earned recognition for her work with Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), a prestigious organization for women educators. Photo Credit: Legacy.com

Many outstanding music teachers have chosen a career in education, much to the benefit of students in our country’s schools. One of these was Nora “Darlene” Mawson Helman, an award-winning music educator from Missouri.

Darlene was born near Archie, Missouri, on July 30, 1940. As the seventh daughter in her family, she was the younger of a set of identical twins. As a young woman, she earned both her Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado.

In a career that spanned 33 years, Darlene taught middle school music, guitar, and choir in Independence, Missouri. She is remembered fondly by her former students. “Miss Mawson/Mrs. Helman was my music teacher in seventh through ninth grade. I remember sitting in awe of her voice and her piano playing,” recalls former student Denise Bogert. “She was a wonderful, kind, caring person and I still remember many of the things she taught me about music to this day,” Bogert continues.

In addition to her work in the classroom, the popular teacher was active in Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), a prestigious International Honor Society for women educators. In that organization she served as the Missouri State President, the DKG Southwest Regional Choir Director, the Regional Convention Chair, the DKG International Music Chair, and the Hand Bell Director. Darlene arranged, composed, and published numerous choral compositions for DKG Conventions. As a member of the Independence Symphony Board of Directors, she implemented the annual Symphony’s “Young Artist Competition.” For all of these achievements, Darlene garnered the prestigious DKG Missouri State Achievement Award in 1993, and she was a recipient of the DKG Golden Gift national scholarship for Leadership Management in 1999.

Darlene Helman passed away on Nov. 3, 2015, in Independence, Missouri. In her honor, the Darlene Mawson Helman Music Education Scholarship has been established at the University of Central Missouri.

Tuskegee Airman LeRoy Battle: Educator, musician, veteran

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High school music teacher and Tuskegee Airman LeRoy Battle authored an autobiography entitled Easier Said, published in 1995. Photo Credit: Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

As a part of our national celebration of Black History Month, I would like to share the story of LeRoy Battle, a high school music teacher who was also a heroic Tuskegee Airman.

LeRoy was born Dec. 31, 1921, in the Harlem section of New York City, New York. His father owned a candy store, and his mother worked as a beautician and cook. While a youngster, LeRoy expressed an avid interest in music. He was able to take music lessons through both the Boy Scouts and the YMCA, where it was obvious he was a natural. By the time he was in the seventh grade, young LeRoy owned his own drum set. After years of learning and practice, the youthful musician was proficient enough to give music lessons as a private tutor.

As a teenager, LeRoy attended Alexander Hamilton High School in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. There he played drums in the marching band and the school orchestra. He also performed in New York’s All-City Orchestra, the Harold Cabbell Orchestra, and the Al Bounds Orchestra. By the time LeRoy was a senior, he played with legendary singer Billie Holiday at the Three Deuces Jazz Club. He also worked with Pearl Bailey. After his graduation, the youthful musician joined a traveling band and went on the road.

Educator LeRoy Battle shown during World War II, when he served in the prestigious Tuskegee Airman group. Photo Credit: Capital Gazette

During WWII, Leroy was drafted. He served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1945 to 1947. Once he earned his silver wings and bars, LeRoy volunteered to join the Tuskegee Airmen. “I can’t say that I ever had any previous aspirations to be a pilot,” he once confessed. “But it sounded like a much better opportunity than anything else that was likely to come along.”  After completing the Tuskegee program at Tuskegee University, gunnery training at Tyndall Field, and bombardier training at Midland Air Force Base, LeRoy joined the 616th Squadron of the 477th Bombardment Group stationed at Freeman Army Air Force Base. For his heroism during WWII, LeRoy garnered the Congressional Gold Medal.

When the war ended, the former pilot continued his studies in music. He returned to New York City and enrolled at the Juilliard School of Music.Then Morgan State University, a historically Black college located in Baltimore, Maryland. There he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Education. He also earned a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.

In 1950, LeRoy accepted a position as a music teacher at Douglass High School in Washington, DC. That year he established a stage band for his students. Over the next eight years, The Douglass High School Band placed garnered first place in 14 competitions. In 1958, the students became the first African American band featured in the prestigious yearbook First Chair of America. Jet Magazine also printed a spread on the outstanding young musicians. Before LeRoy retired in 1978, he also served as a guidance counselor and assistant principal. For 17 of those years, he also served as a drummer in the Washington Redskins Marching Band.

Post-retirement, LeRoy continued to make music. From 1992 to 1996 he did session work with jazz musicians Eva Cassidy and Chuck Brown.In addition, he worked as a motivational speaker for the Tuskegee Airmen’s Speaker’s Bureau. And, as if all that wasn’t enough, he authored an autobiography entitled Easier Said, published in 1995.

Sadly, LeRoy passed away on March 28, 2015, in Harwood, Maryland. He was 93 years old. To read more about this remarkable Chalkboard Champion, see his obituary published in the Capital Gazette.

Music educator Heather Rosner honored by Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

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Music educator Heather Rosner of Alexandria, Virginia, named a “40 Under 40” honoree by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. Photo Credit: Northern Virginia Magazine

Here’s an absolutely amazing music teacher whose story I would like to share. Her name is Heather Rosner, and she teaches at George Mason Elementary School in Alexandria Virginia. In 2022, Heather was named a “40 Under 40” honoree by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

Heather’s employment at Mason Elementary spans 12 years. Over this period, the honored educator has expanded the school’s music program to include every student in the fourth and fifth grades. But clearly, the most challenging period of her career took place during the Covid pandemic. When schools were closed down, Heather adapted her music program by providing wind, brass, and percussion instruments for every one of her 120 students to practice with at home. She made home visits, tuning and repairing the instruments, and supplementing her virtual instruction with one-on-one tutorials.

Once schools were re-opened at the start of the 2021-2022 school year, Heather’s District’s protocols did not allow for wind instruments, and students were required to wear masks at all times while in the classroom. Heather adapted to those conditions, too. “I totally changed what music looked like at our school,” she explains. She introduced her students to the bass guitar, drums, and ukuleles.

Heather, who was born in Rockville, Maryland, earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College in New York. She also studied with a drum and gyil ensemble in Ghana. The gyil is a traditional West African wooden xylophone.

In June 2022, Heather was named to the “40 Under 40” list created by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. Each honoree, says the Chamber, was selected for their professional accomplishments, scholastic achievement, community impact, and personal story. In September 2022, Heather was named a finalist for Northern Virginia Magazine’s Teacher of the Year awards. Her nomination came as the result of widespread praise from her students’ families.

To read more about Heather Rosner, see this article published about her by Ithaca College.

Florida music educator William Coleman earns recognition

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William Coleman, a choir teacher who hails from Palmetto, Florida, was recognized last month by his local television station, ABC7. Photo Credit: Manatee School for the Arts

I always enjoy sharing stories about one of our nation’s exceptional educators. Today, I will share the story of William Coleman, a choir teacher who hails from Palmetto, Florida. He was recognized last month by his local television station, ABC7.

William’s career as a music director spans a total of 26 years. Currently he teaches at Manatee School for the Arts in the Florida city of Palmetto. In addition to his choir courses, this amazing educator teaches music theater workshops and organizes productions. Some of his productions include Little Shop of Horrors, Mame, Jekyll and Hyde, Assassins, Nine, Baby, Annie Jr., Seussical Jr., My Way, The Andrews Brothers, and the premier productions of Boynton Beach Club and Practically Perfect.

Manatee is a public charter school located in Palmetto that offers performing arts programs to middle school and high school students. The school provides academic courses that infuse many opportunities for expression through the performing arts. In addition, students can participate in dual enrollment for college credit. Members of the faculty are professionals in their field, from local performers to internationally known professionals. To read more about this institution, click on this link to MSA.

As part of the school’s mission, William Coleman says he works hard to provide a welcoming atmosphere in his classroom. “I love connecting with my students, be a safe space for them, be comfortable, and be able to explore their love of music,” he declares. As a reward for his dedication to his students, William was profiled by his local television station, ABC7, and he received a $500 award.

William earned his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Purdue University in 1990. He also completed undergraduate work in Piano Performance from the University of Tennessee. He earned his Master’s degree in Piano Performance from Middle Tennessee State University in 1997 and completed a second Master’s degree in Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Oklahoma in 2001.

More band directors that led their students in the 2023 Rose Parade

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One of my favorite events of the year is the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. And every year when I watch this parade on television, the dedication of our nation’s talented band directors amazes me. Here is Part 2 of a two-day series that features these accomplished music educators.

The Pella Marching Dutch Band, Pella, Iowa

Appearing in this year’s Tournament of Roses will be the Pella Marching Dutch Band from Pella, Iowa. The group was led by Director of Bands Dameon Place. This year will be their third appearance in the Rose Parade. Their previous appearances were in 1988 and 2003. The Pella Marching Dutch Band was established in 1937 as an all-inclusive school band with a tradition that has spanned more than 80 years. Their innovative show designs, excellent musicality, and outstanding marching techniques have earned them numerous first place awards. In fact, the group has garnered more than 150 first place finishes and 39 consecutive Division 1 Superior ratings, the highest possible score, at the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Marching Band Festival.

Brookwood Bronco Marching Band, Snellville, Georgia

Another of the bands that will be marching in the parade this year is The Bronco High School Marching Band from Snellville, Georgia, under the leadership of Dr. Laura Coates Stanley. The group boasts nearly 300 students representing all the band classes in their high school. Laura has been teaching at Snellville for 20 years. She earned both her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2001 and her Master’s degree in Wind Conducting 2003, both from the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in Music Education in 2015 from Boston University. Under Laura’s expert leadership, The Bronco Marching Band have received 10 Grand Championships in regional competitions.

Catalina Foothills Falcon Band, Tucson, Arizona

Also appearing in the parade was the Catalina Foothills Falcon Band from Tucson, Arizona, with Director of Bands Renee Shane-Boyd in charge. Renee, who has been a music educator in Tucson for 34 years, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, in 1983. She was selected as her District’s 2009 Teachers of the Year. Her group, the largest marching band in the state of Arizona, has won many accolades, including the Nunamaker Award at 2019 UA Band Day. In addition, they performed in the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and they have travelled to Europe, China, and Australia to perform.

LAUSD All-District High School Honor Band, Los Angeles, California

And finally, we introduce The Los Angeles Unified School District All-District High School Honor Band under the leadership of Band Directors Tony White and Art Duardo. The pair worked together with more than 300 students from approximately 75 Los Angeles county high schools in order to get ready for their 50th Rose Parade performance. This group has been participating in the Rose Parade since 1973. Throughout the years, the band has performed in a variety of events across the greater Los Angeles area, including NFL Super Bowls and Major League Baseball World Series.