Sheri Petersen
2023 Teacher of the Year 

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.


2022 Erich Wangeman

2021 Sarah Stockton

2020 Kevin Cornwell 

2019 James Cumings

2018 Monty Bishop

2017 Kelli Falls
2016 Rebecca Scofield
2015 Pamela Pierson 
2014 Steve Hinz and Russ Larimer
2013 Todd Schreiber
2012 Rodney Bushey
2011 James Borst
2010 Robert Cindric
2009 Norma Freeman
2008 Bruce Snyder


2007 Richard Ingram
2006 Cheryl Gapinski

2005 Catherine Brodie and Wendee Wolf-Schlarf

2004 Robert Oster

2003 Mark Webb

2002 Gregory Cleveland

2001 Nina Scott

2000 Leslie Rowsey

1999 Robert A. Martin

1998 Virginia Anderson-Kerwin

1997 Susan Catanese

1996 Frank DeWald and Robert Sabourin

1995 Shirley Lemon

1994 Thomas Stokes


1993 Wendy Lake and Nancy Lange
1992 Nancy Bray
1991 Larry Wolf
1990 Brazeal Dennard
1989 John Tyner
1988 David Jorlett
1987 Howard Rizner
1986 Marvin Ritsema
1985 Donald Scott
1984 Helmut "Fritz" Petrich
1983 Roger Dehn
1982 John Bright
1981 Lowell Everson and James Mahoney

1980 Dorotha Schuler

1979 Jerry Smith

1978 Guy "Skip" Frizzell

1977 James Leonard
1976 Andy Zerban
1975 John Tousley
1974 Robert Ballard
1973 Eugene Dyer
1972 Eleanor Balaam
1971 John Elwell
1970 Gerald Gilbert
1969 Alfred "Giff" Richards
1968 Kenneth Jewell


The MSVMA membership annually honors one of its own with recognition as Teacher of the Year. Nominations are made at spring and fall District meetings, forwarded to the past president for verification of requirements and placement on a ballot for membership  consideration. 

Teacher of the Year nominees must:

  • Be a current member of MSVMA
  • Have taught a minimum of 15 years, at least 10 of which are on the secondary level in Michigan
  • Have demonstrated consistent excellence in performance
  • Have been influential in creating a love and understanding of music for the masses
The Teacher of the Year is announced at the Michigan Music Conference and finalists are asked to attend.


                                                                                                  

Michigan School Vocal Music Association

P.O. Box 1131

Big Rapids, MI 49307-1131

(231) 592 - 9344

GuideStar

© copyright 2019 MSVMA, All rights reserved.

                             

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software