The ASME National Music Educator Awards seek to acknowledge music educators who demonstrate outstanding quality teaching and learning, impact within and beyond their teaching context, and engagement with the music education profession. This may include areas such as innovative practice, advocacy, mentorship, entrepreneurial leadership, administration, curriculum development, professional learning, activism, and/or research.
Music educators across diverse fields are encouraged to apply for this prestigious national award. Teaching contexts may include: School based primary classroom teaching and instrumental teaching, School based secondary and instrumental teaching, Early childhood music education, Instrumental/vocal teaching or studio instruction, Community music, Music Education Leadership, Higher Education, Educational Administration for and within music education.
The intention of these Awards is to publicly recognize contributions to music education in the following three categories:
- Early career music educator – up to five years in the profession.
- Experienced music educator – between five and twenty years in the profession.
- Veteran educator – a teacher beyond twenty years in the profession.
ASME reserves the right not to make an award in every category where appropriate. Commendations may be awarded to other deserving applicants.
Applications are now closed for 2025.
Award recipients for 2025
Katie Hull Brown
ASME National Experienced Music Educator
Katie Hull-Brown is an experienced music educator with 20 years of dedication to music education, mentorship and curriculum development. Her journey began as a classroom music teacher and through roles in mentoring, leadership and curriculum design, she has supported the professional growth of hundreds of teachers across Australia. Katie’s passion for the Orff Schulwerk approach has shaped my teaching philosophy, fostering creativity, inclusivity and active music-making. As the current President of VOSA (Victorian Orff Schulwerk Association) and a Lecturer at Melbourne Polytechnic, Katie continues to influence the next generation of music educators. My work includes developing Orff-inspired curricula, presenting at national conferences and advocating for equitable access to quality music education.
Dr Malcolm Cole
ASME National Veteran Music Educator
Dr Malcolm Cole has over 40 years of experience as a music teacher, performer, researcher, and administrator. He is currently Head of Faculty, The Arts at Cannon Hill Anglican College in Brisbane, Australia. Previous roles include violinist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Senior Education Officer with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, lecturer in Music Pedagogy at The University of Queensland and numerous appointments in schools, education authorities and orchestras. Malcolm’s PhD research “A Cultural History of Music Education in Cairns and Yarrabah: 1930 to 1970” included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music education histories. Malcolm undertook Masters level research into the origins of the violin etude and studio violin pedagogy. Malcolm is currently Vice-President and Research Officer on the ASME Queensland Council, a member of the ASME National Council and on the organizing committee for the ASME 2025 National Conference. Malcolm is the Oceania representative on the ISME History Standing Committee (HSC) and is a member of the ISME HSC Archives Subcommittee. He is a member of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre Education Reference Group.
Tim Topham
ASME National Music Educator – Commendation
Tim Topham has been helping to reshape and recharge the often traditional landscape of instrumental music education since 2010. Tim’s vision of a more creative, modern and integrated approach to music teaching has seen him speak on stages from the USA to UK and Australia, including the 2024 keynote to the Music Teachers’ National Association of America, publish numerous articles and record hundreds of podcasts and teaching videos for teachers. In Tim’s 20+ year teaching career he has been a classroom teacher, private studio teacher, head of department and head of campus, teaching and coordinating subjects including outdoor education, mathematics, information technology and, of course, music. He has held teaching posts at schools including Oundle School UK (IT and Music Teacher), Guildford Grammar School in Perth (Director of Outdoor Education) and Xavier College in Melbourne (Head of Keyboard). Tim is the author of No Book Beginners, a leading text demonstrating the many benefits of delaying reading in beginner piano teaching.
How to Apply
The award is open to ASME members, and applications may be via self or peer nomination. The nomination form, available on the ASME website, must be completed in full. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applications
The application must include:
- Cover sheet – applicant’s name, contact details, employment details, name and contact details of referee
- Applicant supporting statement containing a 200-word biography (including brief education and employment history) and a response to each of the three criteria (with specific examples).
- Endorsement and statement (up to one A4 page) from a referee (who may be a mentor, school leader, supervisor, etc)
- A headshot suitable for promotional use.
Award Criteria
The review panel will consider the applicant’s demonstrated evidence in the following three areas:
- Quality: Evidence of excellent teaching practice
- Impact and Innovation: Demonstrated and acknowledged contribution to music education
- Influence: Sustained engagement with the wider music education community
Examples to illustrate how the criteria have been met may include:
- Outstanding contribution across a field/s of endeavor
- Effectiveness and innovation in enabling development of new musical understandings that build on and enrich knowledge, skills and attitudes in music
- Teaching approaches that cater for diverse needs and backgrounds
- Working collaboratively with other teachers and providers of music learning to improve student learning outcomes and engagement
- Advocacy and/or activism with demonstrated impact at the state/national levels
Review of applications
The ASME National Music Educator Awards are administered by the ASME National Executive. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of music educators, chaired by a member of the National Executive. Up to one award will be made in each category. Commendations may be awarded to other applicants, at the discretion of the review panel. The award and commendation recipients will be recognised at the National Conference.
Timing of applications
The call for applications will be announced approximately 9 months prior to the ASME National Conference. Successful awardees will be advised approximately 6 months prior to the conference.
Note: Information contained within successful applications may be used by the ASME National Conference Organising committee and/or the ASME National Executive to be used as a basis for publicity.
Background:
At the ASME National Council meeting held on August 19, 2024, it was agreed that the proposed ASME National Music Educator Awards replace the current Music Educating for Life Awards. This proposal had been developed from 2022-2024 by the ASME Awards Subcommittee, with contributions from all ASME State Chapters.
The new ASME National Music Educator Awards differ from the previous Music Educating for Life Awards in a number of ways:
- Administered nationally, with applications reviewed by a panel, led by a member of National Executive.
- Fewer awards to be made, to maintain the prestige of the award. There will be opportunities to offer additional commendations for strong applicants.
- State Chapters will be encouraged to establish awards that recognize contributions at the state level.
- The award will include a trophy and certificate.