An MSU College of Music alumnus who teaches orchestra for MacDonald Middle School and East Lansing High School has been named the Michigan State Band and Orchestra Association Teacher of the Year for 2015.

David Rosin was selected by MSBOA membership and received the top honor at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids in late January. Rosin, who earned both his bachelor’s (BA 1998) and master’s degrees (MM 2004) in music education from MSU, has been teaching for 17 years.

“I was pretty shocked at first when I heard the news,” says Rosin. “I was in the finals before in 2007, so I was not expecting to hear my name. After the initial shock, I thought ‘this is pretty cool.’”

Rosin says his favorite things about teaching in East Lansing are the students. He is currently in his sixth year with East Lansing Public Schools where he teaches all string classes and orchestras from 7^th-12^th grades. The program currently has 250 students and three orchestras at the high school level.

“I am really fortunate to have wonderful, hard-working, talented, and fun students. They always bring so much positive energy to our program, and they are never afraid to try new things," says Rosin. “It really is a unique place that really prepares our students for the world.”

Before coming to East Lasing, Rosin taught at Waverly Community Schools and Lansing Public Schools. He is the co-founder and co-conductor of the Mid-Michigan Youth Symphony, and is an active performer on bass in several different styles.

“David is the consummate music teacher, recalls Cynthia Taggart, professor of music education and one of Rosin’s teachers. “He is an outstanding musician and cares deeply about his students, both as musicians and as people. In addition, his ensembles play extremely well. I am thrilled that he is getting the recognition that he so richly deserves.” 

Always an MSU Spartan, Rosin was a charter member and vice president of the College of Music Alumni Association Board from 2007 to 2012

Source: East Lansing Teacher Named MSBOA Orchestra Teacher Of The Year, by Telaina Eriksen, Eastlansinginfo.org, Feb. 25, 2015.