Franklin Park native among 5 in nation honored by National Association for Music Education

A 2018 North Allegheny graduate attending Slippery Rock University is one of five music education majors in the United States and the only one from Pennsylvania to receive this year’s Collegiate Professional Achievement Award from the National Association for Music Education.

Matt Rees, 22, of Franklin Park, who is entering his senior year at SRU, is being recognized for demonstrating “exemplary commitment, excellence and achievement in the field of music education,” according to the foundation, which is one of the world’s largest arts education organizations providing advocacy, opportunities and professional development for students and music teachers.

“When I first heard I was one of the five recipients in the country, I was in total shock and awe,” Rees said. “I didn’t even know that I’d been nominated. It is a great honor to be able to win this award and represent Slippery Rock University and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. It makes me very proud to continue to teach students and make a positive impact on their lives.”

Rees was nominated for the award by Kathleen Melago, professor and division head of Music Education at SRU.

Melago said Rees’ knowledge and skills are outstanding, and of the more than 150 music education majors with whom she has worked with at SRU, he “is easily in the uppermost echelon in the demonstration of all aspects of professionalism.”

According to NAfME officials, the award is presented to “recognize individual collegiate members for their commitment and dedication to NAfME and music education. This recognition is given to collegiate members who have served their chapters in an exemplary manner.”

SRU officials noted in the nomination that Rees “consistently goes the extra mile to augment his experience beyond the classroom and continuously seeks opportunities to grow and challenge himself and others as an educator.”

Jonathan Helmick, an associate professor and director of bands at SRU said “there is no match for Rees’ imagination, ingenuity and can-do attitude.”

Rees serves as principal trumpet of the SRU Symphonic Wind Ensemble and trumpet sergeant for the SRU marching band, for which he has lead weekly sectional rehearsals for both groups during the past three years.

He has led full-ensemble rehearsals for the SRU Concert Band since being selected as student conductor of the ensemble in September and also is a music theory tutor at the university.

Rees also is the winner of the 2021 Mechelle Hawk Music Education Scholarship, which is SRU’s top honor for a junior music education major.

Prior to the covid-19 pandemic, Rees was one of six students chosen to participate in SRU’s Early Childhood and Elementary Music Community Engagement Initiative.

He planned and led weekly 45-minute sessions to introduce music exploration to pre-schoolers and elementary-aged children by engaging them in singing, dancing and playing a musical instrument.

Rees also has helped build an early foundation for music by participating in the Make Music Pittsburgh festivals downtown for the past two years, which involves teaching preschoolers how to turn empty water bottles, discarded shoe boxes and other household trash into homemade horns, drums and guitars.

Since 2019, Rees has worked as a graduate assistant for the North Hills High School Marching Band and as a brass instructor for the North Allegheny High School Tiger Marching Band. He is scheduled to help lead a week-long band camp later this summer for the Slippery Rock School District.

Additionally, he has participated in Make Music Pittsburgh festivals downtown for the past two years, teaching preschoolers how to turn empty water bottles, discarded shoe boxes and other household trash into homemade horns, drums and guitars.

Rees also performs with the Musicians Concert Band, which is based in Butler; and is a member of the Balcony Big Band, a professional jazz band in Pittsburgh.