Higher Education News

Kent State University Spring Update

Jay Dorfman

Kent State’s Music Education doctoral students and candidates continue to garner national and international recognition for their outstanding contributions and expertise. Congratulations to doctoral student Maura Saint who has been selected to conduct the Massachusetts Junior High SSA District Choir. BethAnn Hepburn presented as a headliner at the AMIS conference in Nairobi, Kenya on collaboration within the Orff Schulwerk environment. Hepburn also presented at the AOSA conference in Kentucky and at the ACDA Children’s and Community Choir Retreat in Maryland. Student Patricia Terceros will present her research at the 2026 Symposium on Research in Choral Singing in Chicago, and David Mehlhope will present his research at the International Society for Music Education in Montreal this summer.

Craig Resta was the keynote presenter in January 2026 for the Illinois Music Education Conference, Music Teacher Education Division. Dr. Resta offered two sessions on string pedagogy and supporting students and teachers in current music classrooms. These were Get SET with Orchestra: Exploring String Education Tools for Instrumental Programs and String Pedagogy as Social Purpose: Consistency and Change in Music Education.

The Kent State Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Isaac Terceros, held its Orchestral Conducting Workshop in late February. We will also hold our Orchestra and Strings Day for high school students on March 22. We are thrilled to have begun the Kent State Youth Orchestra, a new string ensemble fir high school and advanced middle school students. KSYO welcomes violin, viola, cello, and double bass students from across Northeast Ohio to participate in a high-quality and inclusive orchestral experience. Learn more at www.kent.edu/youth-orchestra.

Dr. Rachael Fleischaker, adjunct faculty member and alumnus of the PhD in Music Education program, published “Eight Tips to Consider” in the NAfME blog Adaptations in Action. Check out the valuable ideas and resources that Rachael has provided for adapting music instruction to meet students’ needs.

Congratulations to all the Kent State students and faculty who represented us on the OMEA program this year. We were so thrilled to see you all bring your artistry and expertise to this important conference. It was also wonderful to see more than 200 friends and alumni at our annual reception. We look forward to returning to Columbus in 2027!

Jay Dorfman is professor and coordinator of music education in the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University.

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