Faculty, alumni and students from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami showed up in force at the annual Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) conference in Tampa in early January - garnering awards, conducting youth ensembles, and leading workshops at Florida’s leading music education event.
Their presence was a testament to the leadership of Carlos Abril (B.M. ’92), Chair of the Music Education Program and Associate Dean of Research at Frost, who was honored as the Collegiate Music Teacher of the Year. A Miami native, Abril’s passion for making music education available/// to all kids, no matter their circumstances, has been nurtured at the FMEA since he first attended the conference as an eager high school student in the All-State Orchestra. He continued with professional development workshops while earning his bachelor’s in music education at Frost and working as a Miami-Dade public school music and choral educator, and as a presenter and panelist since returning to Frost in 2011.
“I grew up with the FMEA,” said Abril. “I believe anyone who wants to should have the opportunity to learn music. It’s always been my mission. I had those opportunities, and now I feel like I have to advocate for those opportunities.”
The FMEA draws thousands of students, teachers, researchers, and advocates from across the state for four days of concerts, rehearsals, workshops, presentations, and awards.
“The FMEA is a great advocate at the state level for the importance and power of music education,” said Abril. “It recognizes all the pieces of the puzzle.”
Frost alum Cynthia Kohanek, a former leader of the Miami Children’s Chorus, won the award for Elementary Music Teacher of the Year, while alum and current doctoral candidate Nerissa Rebagay was honored for Exemplary Model Music Program, for her leadership of Miami Jam Sessions, a music program for young people on the autism spectrum that is part of the Donna E. Shalala MusicReach program.
“I don’t ever remember having three Frost folks winning state awards at the same time,” said Abril. “That was pretty wonderful.”
Rob Carnochan, professor of conducting, led the All-State Symphonic Band, and alum Robert Keating conducted the All-State Middle School Jazz Band, uniting hundreds of students, selected via rigorous statewide auditions, in a few days of rehearsal. Alum Lynne Gackle conducted the All-State Concert Chorus; one of the Frost music education program’s most illustrious graduates, Dr. Gackle, former head of choral studies at Baylor University, was recently awarded a 2023 Frost Centennial medal.
Other Frost alumni and students led professional development workshops on topics ranging from musical memoirs of the Holocaust to fostering ensemble spirit. Ph.D student Edward Ercilla, a band conductor and teacher who uses technology to compensate for being deaf, drew attention for his workshop on rehearsing with deaf and hard of hearing music students. Abril led two sessions on the need for more music teachers to fill open jobs at schools across the country.
He credits Frost’s uplifting, creative spirit for helping him foster generations of students to become those teachers. “This is such a dynamic and supportive place,” Abril said. “While everyone pushes themselves to do their best, we’re all in it together. The doors are wide open here.”
