Graduate Music Education
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2012 Distinguished Service Award

JANUARY 2012—Dr. Sandra Doneski, Associate Professor Music, and Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Music Education at Gordon College has been chosen by the MMEA (Massachusetts Music Educators Association) as the 2012 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Sandra Doneski
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The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to only one recipient in recognition of exceptional support and outstanding accomplishments in the advancement of music education in the schools of Massachusetts.

Dr. Sandra Doneski has been recognized for her leadership to music education in the areas of choral conducting, curriculum design and assessment, and teaching that is informed by research. She has demonstrated concern for new teachers and her initiation of the Embracing the New Music Educator Program—a partnership between Gordon College and the Massachusetts Music Educators Association —has been so successful, it is being instituted across the state.

Dr. Doneski has demonstrated superior commitment to teaching young people through music, and the ability to inspire positive attitudes among students, the schools, and the community. She exhibits leadership in educational innovation, recognizes the necessity for continued professional growth, and remains highly involved in local, district, state, regional and national professional organizations.

Sandy is recognized by her peers as a model of leadership characterized by integrity, vision, and the ability to inspire others—all with unyielding humility. Her vision for the music education program at Gordon, both undergraduate and graduate, has established Gordon as a top choice for the study of music education among many music educators in and out of state.

Sandra Doneski wil be presented with the Distinguished Service Award on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 11 a.m. during the Keynote Address of the annual MMEA All State Conference in the Plaza Ballroom of the Seaport Hotel in Boston, MA.


More About Sandra Doneski
Sandra Doneski has had the pleasure of teaching music to students in Kindergarten through graduate school and conducting choral ensembles of varying ages and voicings. She is currently Associate Professor of Music at Gordon College and Director of Graduate and Undergraduate Music Education. She teaches courses in music education methods, learning theory, assessment, curriculum development, supervises student teachers and is the Artistic Director of the Gordon College Children's Choir.

Dr. Doneski founded the Children's Choir in 2000 to give children in the community the opportunity to grow as musicians and music education majors an opportunity to develop as teachers and conductors. She has also served on the faculty of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, where she was Associate Conductor of the Children's Choir Program. Under her guidance, NEC implemented choral programs for early elementary and middle school students that focused on vocal pedagogy and building musicianship. Dr. Doneski is a recipient of the 2009 Massachusetts Music Educators Association Lowell Mason Award and the 2009 Society for General Music in Massachusetts Excellence in General Music Award.

Sandra is a graduate of Gordon College and received her Master's and Ph.D. in Music Education from the Hartt School, Univerity of Hartford. Dr. Doneski's research interests include the development of children's and adolescent's singing skills, music classroom pedagogy, the acquisition of aural understanding and its relationship to music literacy, and curriculum development and assessment in music education.