The Nebraska Music Education Association Outstanding Young Music Educator Award is given in recognition of outstanding promise in the field of music education. Congratulations to Brother Frank Stroup on being named the 2021 recipient of this award!
Frank enrolled at the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 2010, where he received his Bachelors of Music Education and Music Technology. In 2011, he was initiated into Phi Mu Alpha by the Upsilon Chapter. Following his graduation, he enrolled at the University of Maryland where he received his Master’s in Music Performance.
With his Master’s Degree in hand, Brother Stroup left for Omaha in 2017 to begin a new chapter as a band and orchestra teacher and trumpet player with the 43rd Army National Guard band. A few years later, he began teaching in the Lincoln Public School System at Southeast High School. “I chose to become a music teacher because my music teachers in high school, college, and graduate school had a huge impact on me. Band is my avenue to teach music, and I love how diverse it is.”
Music has been an important part of Stroup’s life for many years. Stroup said that the most influential person in his life was his first trumpet teacher and fellow Sinfonian, Denny Schneider (Upsilon Chapter – 1950).
“He taught me how to practice, and that was a big deal. I didn’t realize until I was older that he not only taught me how to get better at the trumpet, but he taught me how to improve myself. Denny taught me to identify something I wasn’t satisfied with, figure out how to improve or fix it, and he taught me to develop the persistence and patience to accomplish what I set out to do,” Stroup said.
Congratulations on this recognition, Brother!
