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January 2, 2020

MSU Music Educators win MMEA

photo of MSU faculty member and alumni with green MSU logo running down the middle
Karen Salvador (left), assistant professor of Music Education at MSU, was announced as the recipient of the Michigan Music Education Association Award of Merit. Yael Rothfeld (right) is an MSU alumna who won the MMEA Music Educator of the Year.

The Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA) announced their 2019 award recipients, and two educators with close ties to the MSU College of Music are among the honorees.

Alumna Yael Rothfeld has been named Music Educator of the Year. Rothfeld earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from MSU and studied piano under Deborah Moriarty. She has been a music educator at Thurston Elementary School in Ann Arbor for the past seventeen years and also teaches an evening music education class at Eastern Michigan University. The award honors her for serving students, her community and profession in a exemplary manner.

MSU College of Music faculty member Karen Salvador has been honored by the MMEA with the Award of Merit. Salvador, who is an assistant professor of Music Education at MSU, is also an MSU alumna and joined the faculty this past fall. The Award of Merit recognizes Dr. Salvador for providing exemplary service to the MMEA and music education in Michigan.

Their awards will be presented at the MMEA Social Hour during the 15th annual Michigan Music Conference on Friday, January 17, 2020 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rothfeld and Salvador will be honored at the conference in front of music teachers and administrators from across Michigan. Other educators to be honored include Outstanding Administrator awards for Dori Leyko and Glenn Mitcham, and a Friend of Music Education Award for Senator Curtis Hertel.

The Michigan Music Education Association is a professional organization that serves music educators, students, parents, and community members through leadership in the advancement of music teaching and learning. MMEA offers professional development workshops throughout the state and performance opportunities for elementary, middle & high school students. MMEA has a strong history of providing state and national advocacy/legislative support and outreach to pre-service, current and retired Michigan music educators of all experience levels. MMEA is a proud state-affiliate of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).