In June, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
honored Lance Nielsen, executive
director of Nebraskans for the Arts and a retired music educator,
as the 2024 Lowell Mason Fellow. This distinction is one of music
education's most important honors, designed to recognize the
accomplishments of music educators, music education advocates,
political leaders, industry professionals, and others who have
contributed to music education in their unique way.
HERNDON,
Va., July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In
June, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) honored
Lance Nielsen, executive director of
Nebraskans for the Arts and a retired music educator, as the 2024
Lowell Mason Fellow. This distinction is one of music education's
most important honors, designed to recognize the accomplishments of
music educators, music education advocates, political leaders,
industry professionals, and others who have contributed to music
education in their unique way. Nielsen was recognized as the 2024
Lowell Mason Fellow during the NAfME National Leadership Assembly
in Reston, Virginia, attended by
music educators and association leadership from around the
country.
A leader and mentor, teacher and
encourager, colleague and friend, Nielsen has devoted his life and
career to music education. His contributions to NAfME and to the
music education profession are countless.
"A leader and mentor, teacher and encourager, colleague and
friend, Nielsen has devoted his life and career to music
education," said NAfME President Deb
Confredo. "His contributions to NAfME and to the music
education profession are countless. We are indebted to his service
for the cause of music education for all students. Lance will tell
you that as a collegiate member of the association, his leadership
career began after he was encouraged to serve as collegiate members
chair for the Nebraska Music Education Association. The rest,
really, is history and clearly evident in his lifetime of giving to
the profession. In Dr. Nielsen's words, 'Plant the seeds and a
forest will grow.' Lance's influence will persist for generations.
His Lowell Mason Fellow designation is greatly deserved."
Lance Nielsen has been an active
member of MENC, now NAfME, since his days as a college
undergraduate. His service to the organization and to music
education began as he served on the Nebraska Music Education
Association (NMEA) board as the collegiate representative. He went
on to serve in various capacities on that board including president
and is a past president of the North Central Division of NAfME
where he again was asked to serve on and lead numerous committees.
He has served students and teachers in K–12 public schools and at
the collegiate level. His selfless dedication to the music
education profession continues in retirement as he currently serves
as Executive Director of Nebraskans for the Arts. He advocates for
music education on a daily basis, at both the state and national
level, encouraging others to do the same.
Nielsen is from the small town of Stromsburg, Nebraska, where he garnered his
kindness toward others and his strong work ethic from his Swedish
family on their family farm. He played trombone in high school and
attended the University of Nebraska
where he was the drum major for the Cornhusker Marching Band and
earned his undergraduate, Master's, and PhD degrees. He began
teaching band in Kimball,
Nebraska, and later taught in Norris and finally
Lincoln. Nielsen began his service
to NMEA as an undergraduate, and later served as band chair and
president. Service to the NAfME North Central Division followed
where, as a National Executive Board member, he was appointed chair
of the Professional Development Committee (now the Professional
Learning and Partnerships Committee), where he worked on the
National Research and PreK–12 Educators Conference. He then left
the K–12 world to prepare preservice teachers at Doane University
where he and his colleague (also a Lowell Mason Fellow) prepared
future music educators.
After several years at Doane, he pursued the position of
Supervisor of Music with Lincoln
Public Schools where now he supported more than 100 teachers and
thousands of students through his curricular and advocacy efforts.
During this time, Nielsen wrote many grants to provide needed
resources for students, and Lincoln Public Schools was chosen by NAMM as
one of the best communities for music education—eight years in a
row. Nielsen continued his service on the NAfME Council of Music
Program Leaders.
Nielsen has presented sessions on many different aspects of
music education at state, regional, national and international
conferences throughout his career. An avid reader, he has always
been on the cutting edge of research and an advocate for equity and
diversity. This past year, Nielsen retired after 32 years in music
education, and now continues his advocacy efforts through his work
as Executive Director for Nebraskans for the Arts, serving on other
local arts boards and conducting the local municipal band in his
spare time.
"What is most impressive about Lance
Nielsen is how he develops relationships with the people he
comes in contact with," shared Judith
Bush, NMEA Past President and NAfME North Central Division
Past President. "He is a mentor and encourager, many times keeping
teachers who might otherwise have left the profession. . . . He
models kindness and collaboration, and it is never about 'him'—it
is about the bigger picture of excellence in music education. I and
many others have benefited from his selflessness and learned what
it is to be a true servant leader."
"Through our work on the NAfME Council of Music Program Leaders,
I was honored to serve alongside him and witness firsthand his
amazing leadership, profound wisdom, and beautiful kindness," added
Annamarie Bollino, current Chair of
the NAfME Council of Music Program Leaders and Virginia Music
Educators Association Immediate Past-President. "His generous
spirit and innate gift of mentorship and support of early career
educators, aspiring leaders, and current colleagues is one of his
greatest strengths. . . . His dedication, passion, and
contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on students,
educators, and communities across the nation. Dr. Nielson is a gift
to the music education field."
The prestigious Lowell Mason Fellows award is named for
educator, musician, and composer of more than 1,600 hymn tunes,
Lowell Mason, who is considered to
be the father of public school music education in the United States. He has been credited with
introducing music instruction to American public schools in the
19th century, and with establishing teacher training in music
education. In 2002, the importance of his contributions to music
education inspired NAfME to create the Lowell Mason Fellows
award.
Lowell Mason Fellow designations also provide an opportunity to
support the efforts of NAfME through the donation made in the
honoree's name. This donation goes to NAfME to support future
generations of music educators through the organization's programs.
Individuals or groups (corporations, universities, foundations,
student organizations, etc.) may fund designations.
Read more about the Lowell Mason Fellows distinction and past
recipients of the honor on this page.
The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) is a
collaborative community that supports music educators and advocates
for equitable access to music education. The only association that
addresses all aspects of music education, NAfME, together with its
affiliated state music education associations, advocates at the
national, state, and local levels and provides resources and
opportunities for teachers, students, parents, and administrators.
Founded in 1907 and representing more than 57,000 members teaching
millions of students, NAfME advances the music education profession
and promotes lifelong experiences in music.
Follow NAfME on Facebook (facebook.com/nafme), Instagram
(instagram.com/nafme), and Twitter (twitter.com/nafme).
Media Contact
Catherina Hurlburt, National
Association for Music Education, 5713233395, catherinah@nafme.org,
https://nafme.org
Kim Henry, National Association
for Music Education, 7038604000,
kimh@nafme.org, https://nafme.org
Twitter
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SOURCE National Association for Music Education