Yamaha Proudly Announces its Fifth Annual 40 Under 40 Music Educators List

BUENA PARK, Calif. (Febuary 11, 2025) — For the fifth consecutive year, Yamaha has chosen 40 outstanding music educators under 40 who exhibit action, courage, creativity, and a commitment to growth while exceeding expectations in their music programs.

Students, parents, teachers, and local instrument dealers and mentors submitted hundreds of nominations highlighting these music educators' positive impact on their community and students.

2025 honorees include:

Jacob Abbot– Dresden High School (Dresden, TN)
Evan Aguilar – Cibola High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Erin Barra – Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
Michael Blanco – Las Vegas High School (Las Vegas, NV)
Nick Blue – Franklin High School (Franklin, TN)
Dr. Gene Butler – Smiths Station High School (Smith Station, AL)
Tanatchaya Chanphanitpornkit – Nyack High School (Nyack, NY)
Lindsay Cummings – Roosevelt University & Loyola University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Laura Del Rosso – Lower Manhattan Community Middle School (New York, NY)
Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich – Slippery Rock University (Slippery Rock, PA)
Dr. Sarah Fabian – Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC)
Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster – Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
Lee B. Gibson – Barberton City Schools (Barberton, OH)
Paul Glader – Bethel-Tate Middle School (Bethel, OH)
Dr. Marissa Guarriello – University of North Carolina (Greensboro, NC)
Dr. Liliana Guerrero – University of Texas (Austin, TX)
Bob Habersat – Oak Lawn Community High School (Oak Lawn, IL)
Dr. Cordara X. Harper – Grambling State University (Grambling, LA)
Alex Hitrick – Broadalbin-Perth Jr./Sr. High School (Broadalbin, NY)
Cody Jackson – Heights Middle School (Farmington, NM)
Zane Kaiser – Justice Page Middle School (Minneapolis, MN)
Shan Kazmi – Zion-Benton Township High School (Zion, IL)
Liam Keller – Chatham High School (Chatham, NJ)
Orien Landis – American Fork High School (American Fork, UT)
Christopher McCurdy – Ulysses S. Grant High School (Portland, OR)
Coty Raven Morris – Portland State University (Portland, OR)
Kevin Morrison – Lambert High School (Suwanee, GA)
Leah Motl – lJ Holton Intermediate School (Austin, MN)
Adam Odenwelder – Belmont Ridge Middle School (Leesburg, VA)
Kate Phillips – Grant Avenue Elementary School (Bronx, NY)
Nicholas, Popovich – Shadow Mountain High School (Phoenix, AZ)
Joshua Race – Fountain-Fort Carson High School (Fountain, CO)
Annie Ray – Annandale High School (Annandale, VA)
Schnell, Michael – Oostburg School District (Oostburg, WI)
Dr. Andrew Stetson – Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX)
Lilly Streich – Galena Unit School District (Galena, IL)
Riley Warren – Fomey High School (Fomey, TX)
Kim Webb – Greene County Tech School District (Paragould, AK)
Dr. Aaron J. Witek – Stetson University (DeLand, FL)
Dr. Rachel Woolf – University of San Antonio (San Antonio, TX)

The 40 selected music educators uplift their communities by consistently demonstrating their passion and charisma for music. The selection was based on the following criteria:

Proposing and implementing new or bold ideas
Offering innovation and imagination in achieving plans and objectives
Establishing and growing or improving music education in their schools and communities

"Despite the challenges that educators face, these music teachers are leading some of the most innovative, creative, and impactful programs to strengthen and advance arts education nationwide," said Heather Mansell, marketing manager of education at Yamaha. "Yamaha is deeply committed to ensuring access to high-quality, comprehensive music education for all students, and we are proud to support and champion the efforts of these 40 exceptional educators—as well as the thousands of others across the country who share their dedication and vision."

To learn more about these educators, please visit: http://yamaha.io/40Under40