The University of North Texas College of Music division of music education celebrated the first graduates of its master of music education summer program. The program was started in 2016 to accommodate teachers who want to continue their music teaching job while attending graduate school.

“We have a large music-education faculty of highly accomplished, broadly published, deeply devoted teachers and researchers who are working across many of the most urgent, complex and important issues in the profession,” said John Richmond, dean of the College of Music.

The UNT summer program combines practical skill development with an in-depth education that includes an expansion of critical thinking and a nuanced understanding of large issues affecting education.

“The UNT College of Music faculty is unsurpassed in experience and expertise,” said Sean Powell, chair of the division of music education. “Our program is 100 percent face-to-face. We take great pride in creating a close-knit community of learners.”

One of the program’s first graduates, Allison Murray, a music teacher in Carrollton, received her bachelor’s degree from UNT and was excited to be able to pursue a graduate degree in the summer program.

“I decided to pursue my master’s because I wanted to continue being a life-long learner and be a better teacher for my students,” she said. “I believe every student should have the opportunity to experience something bigger than themselves, to come together with a group of people and learn how to express themselves through music.”

Kelsey Nussbaum, a music teacher from Austin, found refuge in public school music education programs when she was growing up. She became a music teacher to provide a similar experience for students in public school orchestra programs.

“I have always planned on pursuing further education, but was not yet ready to leave my teaching position in Austin,” she said. “When I heard about the new summer master’s program at UNT, it seemed like the perfect fit. I knew about the school’s excellent reputation and the recent expansion within the music education department, so there was a lot of positive energy surrounding the program.”