Gordon Music Professor Honored for Distinguished Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2012

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Jo Kadlecek
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WENHAM, MA—Twelve years ago, Dr. Sandy Doneski wanted to give children on Boston’s North Shore an opportunity to grow as musicians. But she felt it was equally important to provide music education majors the chance to develop as teachers and conductors. So she started the Gordon College Children’s Choir, and its young members have since performed countless times under Doneski’s leadership as the artistic director.

The children’s choir is one of dozens of contributions Doneski has made to foster musical development and to advance music education throughout Massachusetts. Now Doneski—a resident of Waltham, MA, who is an associate professor of music and the director of graduate programs in music education at Gordon—will be honored as the 2012 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) during its annual state-wide conference in Boston March 1, 2012.

“Dr. Doneski is recognized by her peers as a model of leadership characterized by integrity, vision and the ability to inspire others,” said Faith M. Lueth, MMEA president. “She has a reputation for conducting herself in a professional manner at all times, and for being a ‘teacher’s teacher.’”

A graduate of Gordon College, Doneski earned her Master’s degree and Ph.D. in music education from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. Her research interests include the development of children’s and adolescent’s singing skills, music classroom pedagogy, and curriculum development and assessment in music education. A member of Gordon’s faculty since 1998, Doneski currently chairs the department and teaches courses in music education methods, learning theory, assessment, curriculum development, while also supervising student teachers.

“As is characteristic of great teachers, Sandy inspires all of us to a level of excellence that Gordon College has become known for,” said D. Michael Lindsay, president of Gordon College. “With professionalism and constant enthusiasm for music education, Sandy models for us what it means to love your work and to serve others in the process. We’re grateful for her many contributions here and proud that her colleagues in the MMEA have recognized her with this prestigious award.”

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Gordon College is a multidenominational Christian college of the liberal arts and sciences on Boston’s North Shore, offering majors in 38 fields with graduate programs in education and music education. Gordon is nationally recognized for excellence in academics and in character building, and ranks as one of the nation’s top Christian colleges. www.gordon.edu

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