Honor Society

A View from the Pinnacle

Renowned music educator Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser finds plenty to praise on his first trip to the Disney Honors.
by Mac Randall

In March 2009, the fifth Disney Honors, billed as "The Pinnacle of Music Festivals," took place in Orlando, Fla. As in previous years, the event brought music educators and high school instrumental and choral ensembles together for four days of non-competitive performances and workshops. But this year the Disney Honors reached a new level of excellence, thanks in part to a very special guest: Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, executive director of education at Conn-Selmer, Inc. and Earl Dunn Distinguished Lecturer at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

"This was my first experience with the Disney Honors program," Lautzenheiser says, "and it was exciting to see everyone rise to the occasion and demonstrate the highest level of dedication to our cherished art form, music."

Lautzenheiser took part in several leadership seminars and workshop presentations for the various school ensembles, discussing the crucial role that music learning and music making can play in every aspect of life. He also participated in a roundtable for the ensembles' directors, along with the festival's panel of evaluators. That panel included, among others, Dr. Craig Jessop, former director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and current music department head at Utah State University; Dr. James Litton, music director emeritus of the American Boychoir; Col. Arnald Gabriel, conductor emeritus of the U.S. Air Force Band; Dr. Robert Gillespie, chair of string music education at Ohio State University; and Dr. Mark Davis Schatterday, chair of conducting and ensembles departments at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music.

"Both students and teachers had the opportunity to direct questions to the panel," Lautzenheiser recalls. "One of the audience members asked the evaluators how one should deal with setbacks, mistakes, the sense of 'falling short,' etc. The panel members shared wonderful stories concerning various less-than perfect situations that happened throughout their own careers, and then they went on to describe how, in hindsight, these occasions had provided valuable understanding to embrace future challenges. Their candor instantly connected the young performers to the musical heroes who were sitting in front of them."

As Disney prepares for its next Honors festival, Lautzenheiser looks forward to further involvement in the event. Coming to the Disney Honors, he says, is like "entering a fine restaurant—one immediately realizes everything is upgraded."