Music education program earns national honor

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) received a 2022 Collegiate Chapter of Excellence award from the national group in the professional development category.

"It puts UNG music education on the map in terms of a national footprint," Dr. Marie Graham, UNG assistant professor and coordinator of music education, said. "Previous winners include Florida State University, Vanderbilt University, and Indiana University with much larger programs, so it's a huge honor."

This annual award recognizes a chapter that demonstrates significant contributions to the state, campus, and chapter experience through meaningful professional development. Hosting live or virtual events broadens the experience of the chapter and music education community.

"Contra Flow," the UNG event, was a series of contra dance workshops — fiddle, keyboard, percussion, and dance calling — and a community Contra dance held on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. A UNG Presidential Incentive Award for Graham funded the project.

It puts UNG music education on the map in terms of a national footprint.

Dr. Marie Graham

UNG assistant professor and coordinator of music education

"You basically dance with a partner and progress along a long line. Some of the dance moves are similar to square dance, but there are a lot of other styles of dance that are mixed in, like swing dance and blues dance. It's very eclectic and it's a blast," Graham said.

The Chapter of Excellence recognition was developed to encourage chapters to plan and execute successful advocacy projects, music programs, professional development projects, recruitment strategies, and service projects. Recognition of excellent projects is conferred annually and is based on activities completed by the chapter during each fall and spring semester. 

"One of the reasons we were recognized for the award is because we presented Contra Flow at the Jan 2022 Georgia Music Educators conference. I, along with Dr. Morgan-Ellis, our student string band and cNAfME group also facilitated a professional development workshop at the conference," Graham said.

The recognition will be announced at the virtual 2022 National Assembly.

"We are very proud of our chapter and how much they have blossomed over the past few years under the leadership of Dr. Marie Graham," Dr. Benjamin Schoening, music department head, said.