January 27, 2023

Sheri Petersen Named Michigan School Vocal Music Association 2023 Teacher of the Year

Sheri Petersen, MSVMA 2023 Teacher of the Year

PRESS RELEASE
MSVMA: Michigan Schools for Vocal Music Association


Sheri Petersen
Michigan School Vocal Music Association
2023 Teacher of the Year

Michigan School Vocal Music Association announces the selection by its membership of Sheri Petersen, choral director, Grand Ledge High School as its Teacher of the Year. Petersen’s award was presented at its Annual Meeting at the Michigan Music Conference on January 20, 2023

Sheri Petersen is enjoying her twenty-seventh year of teaching choral music, currently at Grand Ledge High School. She has taught previously at Grand Ledge Hayes Middle School, Williamston High School and Middle School, Swartz Creek High School and Middle School, and Berkley Norup Middle School. Sheri earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Alma College and holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree from Michigan State University.

Sheri’s students consistently excel at MSVMA events such as Solo & Ensemble and Choral Festivals, both at the district and state levels; State Honors Choirs; All-State Choir; and Michigan Youth Arts Festival/All-State Festival. The Grand Ledge Choirs perform yearly Masterwork concerts under her direction. The Grand Ledge High School Madrigals and Bel Canto performed at the 2020 Michigan Music Conference Choral Hours. The GLHS Madrigals performed at the 2022 and 2011 ACDA-Michigan State Conference. Sheri’s high school ensembles have been honored with invitations to sing in the Outstanding Ensemble recital at Michigan Youth Arts Festival/MSVMA All-State Festival in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2017 and most recently in 2022 with the Grand Ledge Madrigal Women. Sheri has had the privilege of directing the 2009 SSA Middle School State Honors Choir and the 2013 SSAA High School State Honors Choir.

Sheri directed the SSA Middle School Choir Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp from 2010-2014. She also spent two summers teaching at Interlochen Arts Camp at the All-State Choir program. Sheri was the recipient of the Carolyn Leep Scholarship in 1999 and is an active member of MSVMA and ACDA. She served as the Chancel Choir director at Holt United Methodist Church, 2005-2016.

Sheri resides in Lansing with her handsome husband, Cory, and sweet little dog, Lola.

The MSVMA membership annually honors one of its own with recognition as Teacher of the Year. Criteria for selection include MSVMA membership, a minimum of 15 years of teaching at least 10 of which are on the secondary level in Michigan, demonstrated consistent excellence in performance and having been influential in creating a love and understanding of music for the masses.

MSVMA supports and encourages vocal music educators and students through participation in district and state festivals, the All-State Festival and the Michigan Music Conference. Provides professional development opportunities to its members via clinics, scholarships, its clinician consultant program and its Summer Conference which offers State Continuing Education Clock Hours and to their students through the Student Leadership Conference.

 

Media Contact:
Emileigh Hartung,
Membership and Office Coordinator
emileigh@msvma.org
msvma.org