2024 RECIPIENTS
MUSIC TEACHER OF THE YEAR
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Scott Malcom
General Music and Choir Teacher
Brookfield Elementary School
Elmbrook School District
Scott Malcom has been teaching music for 28 years. Armed with his varied and extensive training, years of teaching music, and sense of humor, Mr. Malcom has an innate way of connecting with kids. Through Mr. Malcom’s enthusiasm for and dedication to the MSO ACE program, he has developed countless, age-appropriate, elementary general music lessons to teach students how to understand classical music in a fun and involved way. Mr. Malcom earned his undergraduate music education degree from the University of Georgia.
Along with his classical piano training at the University of Georgia under renowned pianist and pedagogue, Dr. Richard Zimdars, Mr. Malcom has studied piano at the Dartington School of Music in Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom and at St. Michael’s University School in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He also studied choral conducting under the renowned conductor, Donald Neuen, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Mr. Malcom received his Master’s Degree in Education from Cardinal Stritch University and had the honor of being chosen as a Kohl Teacher Fellowship recipient in 2002. In his spare time, Mr. Malcom enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, disc golfing, and knitting!
EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
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Mary MacDonald
Principal
St. Bruno Parish School
Dousman
Mary MacDonald combines her love of learning and music in two career positions: principal at St. Bruno Parish School in Dousman and director of music at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Parish in Franklin. Mrs. MacDonald taught general music for 22 years in the West Allis-West Milwaukee Schools and sang for 12 years with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Wisconsin Conservatory Chamber Singers and Vocal Arts Consort, all directed by Margaret Hawkins. Later, she was a member of the Milwaukee Choral Artists for 12 years under the direction of Sharon Hansen.
Mrs. MacDonald presented recitals as a Young Artist with the Civic Music Association and at Goethe House. She studied art song and opera for two summers at the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria, and made two European tours with The American Swing Choir, alumni group from UW-Whitewater.
As a teacher, Mrs. MacDonald helped students see the connection with math, stories of people, and experiences of other children just like them in the world. She earned her Master of Science in Educational Administration from Cardinal Stritch University in 2012. As principal, she has the privilege of supporting wonderful teachers who are dedicated to their students. She finds special satisfaction in supporting the music program at St. Bruno and leading the music program at St. Martin of Tours. Mrs. MacDonald has three adult daughters and lives with her husband, Michael MacDonald, in Franklin.
EMERGING MUSIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
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Antonio M. Kitchens
Band Director
Lincoln Center for the Arts Middle School
Milwaukee Public Schools
Antonio M. Kitchens currently directs the concert band and drumline at Lincoln Center of the Arts. Mr. Kitchens’ philosophy on education is to always advocate for student voices and prioritize relationship building to encourage their musical growth. Additionally at Lincoln Center of the Arts (LCA), Mr. Kitchens is the school's discipline committee facilitator and works to improve the culture and climate of the building.
Mr. Kitchens is a Milwaukee native. In 2020 Mr. Kitchens completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Education from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and began teaching at LCA. While attending UWM, Mr. Kitchens received the Richard Garner Award (2019) for exceptional leadership, musical excellence and service to campus and community. Mr. Kitchens graduated from Riverside University High School in 2016. Prior to working at LCA, Mr. Kitchens enlisted and is currently a Sergeant in the Army National Guard. Mr. Kitchens joined the 132D Army National Guard Band in 2017 and continues to perform regularly around the state in parades, inaugural ceremonies, and local celebrations. Mr. Kitchens is the section leader of flutes and also performs with the Guardian Winds woodwind quintet.
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC INSTRUCTION
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Annie Schmidt
Orchestra Teacher
Brookfield and Burleigh Elementary Schools
Elmbrook School District
Annie Schmidt is in her 28th year in the Elmbrook School District, where she teaches Beginning Orchestra to 150+ fourth and fifth graders. She loves being part of her students’ first experience playing an instrument and thrives on the excitement of these young musicians. Along with establishing solid technique and note reading skills, she hopes to inspire her students to love playing their instrument and have fun making music! Mrs. Schmidt is a proud graduate of St. Olaf College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education, with Departmental Distinction. These formative years were filled with music mentors, friends, and experiences that continue to influence her teaching today. Mrs. Schmidt played viola in the St. Olaf Orchestra under the direction of Steve Amundson and sang at Carnegie Hall in the St. Olaf Choir under Anton Armstrong. She earned a Master of Music Degree from UW-Milwaukee, where her favorite classes were with Dr. Scott Emmons.
Music and family have always gone together for Mrs. Schmidt. She was raised in Fond du Lac, where her parents, Bob and Jane Shirek, were both public school music teachers, and also had their own dance band, The Downtowners. Mrs. Schmidt joined the band after college playing keyboard bass until 2022 when her parents finally retired from playing. They are truly lifelong musicians! Mrs. Schmidt and her husband, Paul, now live in Waukesha. One of her biggest joys has been making music with her own children, Trey and Jackson, who are now college students. Playing piano duets and trios with them and accompanying them at WSMA Solo & Ensemble will always be treasured memories. Mrs. Schmidt is active at her church, Divine Redeemer Lutheran in Hartland, as a viola soloist, handbell choir member and pianist. Having wonderful colleagues over the years has made teaching especially rewarding. Mrs. Schmidt feels fortunate to also call these people her friends. She thanks her current team for nominating her, and Civic Music MKE for this award.
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
CHORAL MUSIC INSTRUCTION
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Rod Stoughton
Choir Director
Karcher Middle School
Burlington Area School District
Rod Stoughton has been a member of Burlington’s Karcher Middle School music faculty teaching choir, vocal jazz, general music, and guitar since 1999. He has spent the past 25 years directing the choirs at Karcher and also developing innovative music courses such as Modern Music Production, History of Musical Theatre and Scene/Songwriting, and Rock and Pop Modern Band.
In 1999, when Mr. Stoughton became choral music director at Karcher, he created the unique and now successful Karcher Vocal Jazz Ensemble. In addition to the jazz ensemble, he started the tradition of the annual Karcher Choirs Pops Concert, becoming both a student and crowd favorite showcasing some of Karcher's most exceptional young singing talent - including a former student who recently appeared on NBC’s “The Voice.” From 2011-2017, Mr. Stoughton also co-directed and played guitar with the popular Orange Crush Band, a rock and soul band that was a collaboration between students and faculty enhancing high school athletic events, community events, and was featured on the PBS Wisconsin program, Wisconsin Life. As a sound engineer and member of the Burlington High School Musical Theatre team, Mr. Stoughton has received six Jerry Awards for Outstanding Sound Design.
Mr. Stoughton holds a Bachelor's Degree in Choral Music Education from UW-Eau Claire and a Master's Degree in Education from UW-La Crosse. He has been a member of NAfME, ACDA, WCDA, WMEA, and NAMM and has presented at the Wisconsin Music Educators Association conference. He has also served numerous times as a guest clinician for area middle and high school choral workshops. In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Stoughton was the Burlington High School Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach for five years and an assistant for six. He has also coached middle school basketball, track, and volleyball. He is now a licensed WIAA basketball official and officiates throughout the area.
Away from his own school, Mr. Stoughton enjoys being a freelance guitarist, playing in the area for musical pit orchestras and accompanying ensembles. He also enjoys writing, recording, and arranging music, collecting, building, and fixing guitars, and spending quality time with his wife and two daughters.
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
GENERAL MUSIC INSTRUCTION
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Corynn Nordstrom
General Music Teacher
Ben Franklin Elementary School
School District of Menomonee Falls
For the past 20 years, Corynn Nordstrom has taught music for children in pre-kindergarten through high school. She is grateful to be in her 6th year teaching general music for students in kindergarten through 2nd Grade at Benjamin Franklin Elementary. Mrs. Nordstrom also enjoyed directing the Milwaukee Children’s Choir Introductory Choir for the past five seasons and is currently teaching the MCC Music Explorers program for children ages 4-5. She also teaches summer beginning woodwind lessons for area middle school band programs and vocal directs for Musical Masquers, Inc. youth musical theater camps. Mrs. Nordstrom began her music development at home, listening, singing, dancing, and playing with her family, starting piano lessons with her Dad when she was very small. In middle school and high school, she played clarinets and saxophones in every ensemble. Mrs. Nordstrom won multiple youth concerto competitions on clarinet throughout Wisconsin, and cantored while her Dad accompanied for church services until she went to the Interlochen Arts Academy to pursue clarinet studies for her senior year. From there, Mrs. Nordstrom attended the University of Michigan for her Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance and music education, and after teaching several years in the metro Detroit area, her Master of Music in music education from the same institution. A lifelong learner, Mrs. Nordstrom is a national board-certified teacher, and holds certifications in Music Learning Theory, Kodály, and Orff-Schulwerk. She is looking forward to her next opportunity to go back to school!
Mrs. Nordstrom served several years as treasurer for the Michigan Music Educators Association and was awarded the Hilda E. Humphrey Award for service to the profession early in her career. After moving to Wisconsin, Mrs. Nordstrom served two terms as Early Childhood Music Chair on the WSMA Council, writing articles for the Wisconsin School Musician Magazine on early childhood education topics. She has presented a variety of sessions on music education at many music conferences, including the Wisconsin Music Conference in Madison. Mrs. Nordstrom has enjoyed playing clarinet and auxiliary clarinets for Knightwind Ensemble and the Kettle Moraine Symphony, as well as doubling on woodwinds for community musical theater groups. She still gigs occasionally and continues to sing and play instruments at her church. Mrs. Nordstrom and her husband Tyler are proud choir and theater parents for both daughters, band parents for daughter, Robin, and soon-to-be proud orchestra parents for daughter Annalise.
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
STUDIO MUSIC INSTRUCTION
MITCHELL SHINER
Independent Percussion Instructor
Chair, Jazz & Contemporary Music, Percussion Faculty
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
Mitchell Shiner is a vibraphonist, drummer, and composer, based in Milwaukee. He graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies where he studied under Professors Steve Houghton, Michael Spiro, Wayne Wallace, Brent Wallarab, and Dr. David Baker.
Mr. Shiner serves as the Chair of Jazz & Contemporary Music at The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. At WCM, he teaches percussion lessons to students of all ages and facilitates jazz combos and ensembles for middle and high school students and lifelong learners. Through the WCM Connections program, he teaches a World Percussion curriculum to high-need students in the Milwaukee area. The administrative and artistic team at WCM is creating programming that reflects the contemporary music scene - empowering our students to explore a diverse world of music. Mr. Shiner is a bandleader and composer. “Mitchell Shiner Latin Vibes” has been featured by the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Jewish Community Center for events like Latkes Con Salsa and Carnaval De Purim. “Precarious Towers” is a Midwest all-star group of players and educators performing inspired compositions in the spirit of joy and collaboration. “Match Stick” is a tour de force fusion band, playing exclusively genre-bending original material for an electric quartet.
While away from noise-making activities, Mr. Shiner enjoys cooking Korean-style food, crafting wind chimes out of teapots and silverware, and taking short walks with his very fluffy Pomeranian named Lucky. Mitchell Shiner’s recordings, performances, and educational endeavors are at www.shineymusic.com.
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
YOUTH MUSIC INSTRUCTION
KARL MUELLER
State Co-Coordinator
Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music
Band Director, Bradford High School, Kenosha Unified School District
Karl Mueller has been the Co-State Coordinator for the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music since 2021
and its tuba coach since 2013. The Ambassadors have provided Wisconsin high school band and choir students the opportunity to represent Wisconsin through performing in England, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany since 1994. Mr. Mueller is also the Director of Bands at Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha. He has spent the last twenty-seven years working in the nationally recognized music department of the Kenosha Unified School District, where he currently teaches a beginning band, concert band, a wind ensemble, two jazz ensembles and a pep/marching band. Throughout his tenure, his bands have consistently earned high honors at regional and national competitions in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, Louisiana, Washington D.C., Colorado, Florida, Ontario and Quebec. Mr. Mueller directs the school district’s high school summer marching band, the Band of the Black Watch, earning top awards for parade marching as well as concert performance around the country and Canada. He was honored to serve as the Guest Band Director for the Almaty International Music Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2015, and has enjoyed directing the Brookfield Civic Band since 1997.
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Mr. Mueller enjoys playing the tuba with the Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra and the Alte Kameraden German Band and is a founding member of the Wisconsin Chamber Brass. He also plays euphonium for the Sudler Silver Scroll Award-Winning Knightwind Ensemble. For many years, Mr. Mueller was a member and low brass teacher for the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While with the corps, the group won three World Champion titles, in two divisions. He won the Drum Corps Midwest contra bass solo competition in 1991, 1992 and 1994, as well as the Drum Corps Associates contra bass solo competition in 1994.
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Mr. Mueller earned his Bachelor’s of Music Education Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1996, and his Masters of Music Education Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2013. He has been selected to “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities” as a graduate student, and “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” multiple times. Mr. Mueller is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Wisconsin Music Education Association, American School Band Director’s Association, Phi Beta Mu Honors Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Music Fraternity, and is a Conn-Selmer VIP. Mr. Mueller and his wife, Robin, reside in Brookfield with their twin daughters, Alexandra and Alaina who are also musicians. Mr. Mueller enjoys supporting his daughters in their love of music, art, and sports. He also enjoys bicycling and restoring his 1975 Triumph Spitfire.