Category Archives: Alumni

Music Therapy event graphic

Celebration of 50 Years of Music Therapy at CSU!

Posted by Jennifer Clary on Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Alumni, CLA Community, CLA Dean's Office, College of Liberal Arts

The music therapy area at CSU is celebrating 50 years with an event on Saturday, September 27 from 1-4 p.m. at the University Center for the Arts. Learn about the journey of building one of the nation’s leading music therapy programs and the unexpected details that shaped its history from the leaders who helped establish the program and curriculum. From classroom memories to ground-breaking innovations, this celebration highlights the people, stories, and spirit that have made CSU’s program thrive for half a century.

Sarah Chicoine at Munroe Elementary

Sarah Chicoine creates curiosity about music to last a lifetime

Posted by School of Music, Theatre, and Dance on Friday, August 8, 2025
Alumni, Music Education, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Leave a comment

Sarah Chicoine creates curiosity about music to last a lifetime Sarah Chicoine (CSU ’18, B.M., Music Education) starts each class at Munroe Elementary in Denver, Colorado, with an artist of the day. She talks with her students about musicians such as Harry Styles and his gender-fluid style, Lizzo and her body positivity, and Halsey, who […]

Emmanuel Bonilla headshot

Emmanuel Bonilla: a heart of grace and compassion

Posted by School of Music, Theatre, and Dance on Friday, August 8, 2025
Alumni, Music Education, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Leave a comment

Emmanuel Bonilla: a heart of grace and compassion Emmanuel Bonilla (CSU ’23, B.M. Music Education) is making an impact as a teacher of choir, modern band, and mariachi at multiple schools in Fort Collins. Bonilla has strong roots in Colorado, where he has applied the pedagogical skills he developed at CSU with an inspiring level […]

Paul Maley teaching percussion

Music Ed alum Paul Maley builds kids’ confidence and inspires them to shine

Posted by School of Music, Theatre, and Dance on Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Alumni, Music Education, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Leave a comment

Music Ed alum Paul Maley builds kids’ confidence and inspires them to shine What do you get when you fuse Dalcroze, Kodály, and Orff methods, folk dancing, and rock and roll in the music classroom? Meet Paul Maley (CSU ’18, M.M. in Music Education), director of music at Estes Park Elementary School, who is a […]

CSU Music student at Spur

Recent graduate Paul Beyer reflects on his first year teaching music

Posted by Jennifer Clary on Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Alumni, Music Education, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Leave a comment

Recent graduate Paul Beyer reflects on his first year teaching music We recently connected with Paul Beyer, who graduated from CSU with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2023. Paul reflected on his first year teaching elementary and middle school music in Colorado. Tell us a little about your job–where you teach, the […]

Phuong Nguyen headshot

Phuong Nguyen has built a classroom culture around high standards and making music fun

Posted by Jennifer Clary on Monday, May 27, 2024
Alumni, Music Education, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Leave a comment

Phuong Nguyen has built a classroom culture around high standards and making music fun Dai-Phuong Nguyen (B.M.E. ’01, M.M.E. ’08) is a perfectionist as a performer of multiple instruments and genres and a music educator. He has created a classroom environment that balances high standards, curiosity, and interactive play. His range of musical interests is […]

Denver West High School

Hollie Ryckman embraces multiple cultures and student-led approaches in her Denver classroom

Posted by Jennifer Clary on Friday, May 24, 2024
Alumni, College of Liberal Arts, Music Education, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Leave a comment

Hollie Ryckman embraces multiple cultures and student-led approaches in her Denver classroom Hollie Ryckman, M.M. in Music Education ’20 Many CSU music education graduates expand upon normalized approaches to music pedagogy to accommodate their students’ needs and interests. Denver music teacher Hollie Ryckman is part of this transformative movement. Ryckman’s teaching philosophy embodies a belief […]