Biography

Angela Ammerman, referred to by the Washington Post as a “music teacher prodigy,” earned degrees in Music Education from the University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music, Boston University, and her Ph.D. from George Mason University. Ammerman has dedicated much of her musical career to providing access to quality music education for underserved populations of children including the beginnings of a strings program at a children’s home in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Ammerman is in high demand as a clinician and guest conductor and has conducted All State Orchestras in Georgia, California, Utah, West Virginia, and Tennessee.

Inspired by her experiences working with children from across the globe, Ammerman completed her first book in The Music Teacher’s Guide series, entitled: The Music Teacher’s Guide to Engaging English Language Learners published by GIA Music. Since then, Ammerman has completed The Music Teacher’s Guide to Recruitment and Retention, and is currently in the final stages of publishing the third book in the series: The Music Teacher’s Guide to General Music alongside some of the most stellar general music educators in the country. Ammerman’s research can also be found in the String Research Journal, the American String Teacher’s Journal, the Teaching Music Journal, among others. 

Known for a passion for recruiting future music educators, Ammerman has given countless keynotes, presentations, in-services, and podcast interviews to encourage classroom teachers to recruit for their ensembles as well as for the profession all across the globe. Ammerman has been honored most recently as a Yamaha 40 Under 40 Music Educator of the Year as well as the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Outstanding Advisor of the Year in 2017. Recognized by Fairfax County Public Schools as the Top Teacher in 2017 and the Virginia House of Delegates in 2016, Angela diligently works to pass along these teaching and mentorship qualities to her Music Education students. In 2016, Ammerman was named the Virginia Orchestra Director of the Year, a finalist for the Fairfax County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year, and Washington Post Teacher of the Year. Ammerman grew up listening to her mother teach piano lessons in her own home and attributes much of her own passion for teaching to her musical mother and her work ethic to her dad. Sparked by the need to increase access to music education resources and community for teachers in remote and underserved areas, Angela Ammerman can also be found creating high-impact, short-form professional development, referred to as “PD in Your Pocket” on her viral Instagram page for music educators: @musicteachersguide.

Currently living in Maryville, Tennessee with her incredibly supportive husband and son, Ammerman recently stepped into the role of Associate Teaching Professor of Music Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Ammerman is in awe of the resilience and dedication of school music educators across the United States and is honored to have the opportunity to work with them and the incredible students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

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Education

• PhD, Music Education – George Mason University (2017)
• MM, Music Education – Boston University (2010)
• BME, Music Education – University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (2006)