Charlie Mathews

The 2015 Colorado Bandmasters Association Student Teacher Scholarship was recently awarded to Colorado State University Music Education student, Charlie Mathews, who is currently student teaching with Raleigh Eversole at Palmer Ridge High School, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Amy Abbott at Red Hawk Elementary School, Longmont, Colo.

According to the Colorado Bandmasters Association (CBA), the award is for residents of Colo. who have attended a college or university in-state, majored in instrumental music education, are student teaching in the area of band, and who plan on teaching K-12 band after graduation.

The CBA committee granted Mathews a $1250.00 scholarship, intended to assist with expenses at the end of a student teaching semester.

In his award application essay, Mathews correlated his decision to become a music teacher as “a result of the opportunities and experiences I had in high school.” He went on to say that he “felt a responsibility to share my love of music with a new generation of students.”

During his time at Colorado State University, Mathews excelled in every respect, including graduating with a 3.97 GPA. “Charlie is a fantastic student, and as the only CBA scholarship recipient in the state, this is an incredible honor for him,” said Dr. Erik Johnson, assistant professor of Music Education, in charge of instrumental music.

While at CSU, Mathews developed a solid teaching philosophy that resonated with the CBA selection committee. “I want students in my classroom to consider complex questions, learn effective study habits, and broaden their worldview through the study of a diverse repertoire of music,” he explained. Mathews believes “that all students, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to receive a quality music education and share musical experiences with their peers…resulting in learners and musicians that are capable of looking at the world with an artistic disposition.”

Mathews will be recognized at the CBA Summer Convention banquet in Denver on July 16. The committee “hopes that CBA is the place you look to find mentors and a connection with the great community of band directors in Colo.,” CBA Past President Sara Wynes, expressed in an email to Mathews confirming his award.

As further confirmation of the CBA award, and of his successful collegiate career, the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at CSU conferred the department’s 2015 Distinguished Student Music Teacher award on Mathews as well.

Mathews has accepted an instrumental music teaching position at Fort Morgan High School, and will start this fall. “As I begin my teaching career, I feel very privileged to join the amazing tradition of music education in Colo. that the CBA has supported for many years,” concluded Mathews. And the state is privileged to have you, too, Charlie!