University of Idaho students earned top awards for music education from the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the Chapter of Excellence Award for Service in April.
The U collegiate chapter of NAfME is made up of more than 30 students from the Lionel Hampton School of Music. They have worked closely with Lapwai Middle and High School where they cleaned and inventoried school band instruments.
UI students made simple repairs, labeled those that needed professional repair and organized the instruments. The service project contributed to the revival of the school’s band program which hasn’t been met since 2014.
Alexis Gist is a senior at the Lionel Hampton School of Music and the 2023-2024 president of the Idaho Collegiate NAfME chapter. She has been an advocate for music education and works to connect performers and educators through opportunities to teach, perform, and inspire.
Gist is an accomplished flautist and served as a section leader in the Vandal Marching Band. She is due to graduate in May.
She said, “These students are well on their way to becoming awesome music educators.”
Lori Conlon Khan, advisor to the group and clinical associate professor at Hampton School of Music, said, “I am so very proud of our NAfME chapter leadership and members and their hard work in planning and executing service projects, education opportunities and social gatherings for our music education community.”
For more information about the Lionel Hampton School of Music visit the U I Music website.
Grace Boehland can be reached at [email protected]