Gilbert receives 2020 Nebraska Music Educator of the Year honors

Danni Gilbert
Danni Gilbert

Gilbert receives 2020 Nebraska Music Educator of the Year honors

calendar icon30 Nov 2020    user iconBy Kathe C. Andersen

Lincoln, Neb--Danni Gilbert, associate professor of practice in music education in the Glenn Korff School of Music, has received the 2020 Nebraska Music Educator of the Year Award from the Nebraska Music Educators Association (NMEA).

Recipients of the NMEA Music Educator of the Year Award display excellence in every facet of music teaching in Nebraska. Nominees must have completed at least seven years of teaching and are currently active teaching.

“I am always telling my students that teaching music is primarily a people profession,” Gilbert said. “The music is important, and we have to be able to effectively help students gain knowledge and improve their skills, but teaching is about building positive relationships with people above all else. As much as I want to inspire students, I want them to know that they also inspire me. I feel so incredibly blessed to work with such amazing students and colleagues who encourage, challenge, and motivate me to try new ideas and to keep growing as an educator. There is no place like Nebraska!”

Glenn Nierman, Professor, Associate Director and Glenn Korff Chair of Music, said Gilbert makes an impact on her students. 

"I can see the excitement on the students' faces as they enter Dr. Gilbert's classroom each day," Nierman said. "They are often in her office, seeking her advice as to how to handle various situations that they have encountered in their field experiences. I think the best testimony to her impact on the students and our school is the fact that it was the UNL music education students themselves that initially suggested her for this award."

Gilbert has been teaching at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln since 2018, where she serves as the Coordinator of Music Field Experiences. She oversees and supervises students in their practicum and student teaching placements. 


In addition, Gilbert teaches online graduate music education courses for Kent State University and advises students in their Capstone experiences.

Gilbert received her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She received her master’s degree in saxophone performance and her Ph.D. in music education, both from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

For more information on Gilbert, visit https://go.unl.edu/69x4.