Current PhD Students

Sadie Awad, originally from Wisconsin, holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. With 13 years of experience teaching orchestra in Texas, Michigan, and Austria, she has developed a deep commitment to music education. Her master’s thesis focused on reducing music teacher attrition by examining the connection between music teacher attrition and preservice teacher training. Sadie has presented at conferences on topics including recruitment and retention, beginner bow technique, and the findings from her master’s research. Her research interests include early career music teacher attrition, string teacher preparation, and teaching music to students with special needs. Outside her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, exploring the outdoors, traveling, and baking.

Piumi earned her Master’s in Music Education from Northern State University, South Dakota and her Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts in Western Vocal Performance, from the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Sri Lanka. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in masterclasses with world-renowned artists, including David Gowland, Director of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House.

As an international music educator, Piumi has worked in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and China, where she taught in multicultural settings. In Shanghai, she studied Gamelan at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, took part in a Chinese opera summer program at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, and led the Shanghai Community Choir.

Piumi loves to travel and has visited 13 countries. She has sung with choirs in France, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Research interests:

Early childhood music education

Performance anxiety

World music

Audiation

Rong Nie served as a lecturer at Sichuan Conservatory of Music, teaching undergraduate  courses in creative music pedagogy, Kodály methodology, piano instruction, and early childhood music education. She supervised student internships, organized teacher training programs for rural educators, and coordinated international masterclasses. Rong earned degrees from Sichuan Conservatory and a Diploma in Music Education from the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy in Hungary. Her research interests include localized teaching strategies, educational equity, and supporting music teachers in underserved communities.