March is Music in Our Schools Month, and a recognition of the importance of quality music education for all students. To...

March is Music in Our Schools Month, and a recognition of the importance of quality music education for all students. To celebrate, we’d like to spotlight two North Carolinian music educators, Dr. Marissa Guarriello (UNCG) and Dr. Sarah Fabian (Gardner-Webb University), both of whom were honored on Yamaha Music’s 40 Under 40 list. The list recognizes young music educators who bring “action, courage, creativity, and growth” to their instruction. Dr. Guarriello, Visiting Professor of String Music Education at UNCG, has worked to spread the joys of music education, helping organize a new conference for music educators, ArtsQuest. As a teacher, she’s implemented the lessons of the book she co-authored in 2020, The Creative String Orchestra, emphasizing the importance of joyful improvisation within all modes of music making (including classical). Dr. Fabian, Director of Bands at Garden-Webb, has generated a groundswell of interest in music at her university, increasing the number of music majors, and growing the membership of the marching, pep, and symphonic bands. Putting an emphasis on community building, she also regularly brings high schoolers to GWU, and makes a point to increase the involvement of her bands in civic events. Image 1: Dr. Marissa Guarriello, University of North Carolina-Greensboro Image 2: Dr. Sarah Fabian, Gardner-Webb University Alt. text: Image 1 - head shot of a smiling Dr. Guarriello against a black backdrop; Image 2 - head shot of a smiling Dr. Fabian against a gray backdrop