LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug 12, 2021) – The College of Fine Arts at the University of Kentucky announces that Martina Vasil, associate professor of music education, has been elected president of the Association for Popular Music Education (APME).
Martina Vasil is Associate Professor of Music Education, Division Coordinator for the Department of Music Education and Music Therapy and Director of Summer Music Education at the UK School of Music.
“I am delighted and honored to lead APME for the next two years. As a long-time member and board member of APME, I have always appreciated the resources and professional network provided by APME. The annual conference has always been a highlight of my year, and I have met so many interesting people from all aspects of popular music education – industry, performance, education – who have inspired my teaching and research, ”said said Vasil. “Now, as President, I am honored to work with an incredible group of professionals on our current Board of Directors as we strive to engage and serve our members to work towards more inclusive practices in the world. popular music education; we want to help ensure that there is space in popular music education for more diverse voices to be heard and amplified. “
APME kicked off at the College Music Society’s annual Music Education Week in June 2010, held in Washington, DC. The idea arose out of the desire to “compare grades” for colleges and universities in the field of popular music education. The organization’s mission is to “promote and advance popular music at all educational levels, both in the classroom and beyond”.
In the UK, Vasil teaches undergraduate courses in general musical methods and graduate courses in music education research and popular music education. She has also supervised student teachers and cooperates with the College of Education to admit music education candidates into the teacher training program. As director of the Music Education Summer Institute, she oversees the programming of Modern Band, Orff Schulwerk and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Before coming to the UK, she worked in public, charter and parish schools in rural, suburban and urban areas.
Vasil’s main research interests are popular music education, children’s musical culture, and mentoring practices in the training of music teachers. She holds a bachelor’s and doctoral degree in music education from West Virginia University and a master’s degree in music education from the Eastman School of Music.
The School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts has earned a national reputation for high-level education in opera, choral and instrumental music, as well as music education, music therapy, composition, theory and history of music.
