Episode 10: Scott Sheehan- The Future of Music Education

A nationally recognized advocate and leader for the advancement of music education, Scott Sheehan is the Director of Bands and Music Department Chairperson at the Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School in Hollidaysburg, PA where he directs the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band and teaches AP Music Theory, Fundamentals of Guitar, and an elective course Rock, Rap, and Revolution!. During his tenure at Hollidaysburg, the school district has been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education in the United States by the NAMM Foundation for the past nine years.

In addition to his duties at Hollidaysburg, Mr. Sheehan serves as the President-Elect (2020-2022) for the National Association for Music Education and is the Program Chair for the NAfME All-National Honors Ensembles. He served as the NAfME Eastern Division President for from 2015-2017 where he served on the Executive Committee and Finance Committee. As an active member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Mr. Sheehan served as State President, as well as the District 6 Vice President and the District 4 President and Curriculum and Instruction State Representative. He coordinates the PMEA Leadership Academy, serves on the PMEA Mentoring Program Steering Committee, and is coordinator of the PMEA Model Curriculum & Assessment Steering Committee.

Mr. Sheehan is an Educational Clinician for Conn-Selmer and is a consultant for strategic planning and association development. He served as the NAfME Mentor for Band, and he was recognized at the state level as a Pennsylvania Keystone Technology Integrator by the Department of Education. He also served on the Educator Effectiveness Stakeholders Steering Committee for the Department of Education and served as a lead teacher for the implementation of the Student Learning Objectives initiative for PDE.

He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, the International Bandmasters Fraternity, was named Teacher of the Year in 2013 by the Hollidaysburg Area School District, and received the Outstanding Music Educator Award from Penn State University’s College of Arts and Architecture in 2016. Mr. Sheehan was a finalist for the 2019 GRAMMY Music Educator Award and is an active guest conductor and clinician throughout the country. He performs trumpet with the Hollidaysburg Community Band where he also serves as the group’s Associate Conductor. Additionally, he performs with the Altoona Brass Collective and the Blair County Brassworks for various community events and local church services. Scott holds a B.S. Degree in Music Education and a B.M. Degree in Music Marketing from Clarion University, and holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University. Scott and his wife Amy are the proud parents of their daughter Ellie.

You can find more about Scott on his website at https://sheehanmusiced.wixsite.com/website