MEDIA RELEASE - 19 May 2004

UNL Graphic Design senior has his winning poster produced by ISME

The International Society for Music Education (ISME), celebrating its 50th anniversary, held a poster competition for University of Nebraska, Lincoln graphic design students to design an anniversary poster for the organization.

Trenton Claus, a Bachelor of Fine Arts senior from Lincoln, is the winner of the poster competition. The winning poster design was announced at the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts Honors Day Dinner on Saturday, April 24 by Dean Giacomo M. Oliva, President of ISME. "I was really honoured" Claus said. "It was a lot of fun. When your school project is for an actual client it makes it more interesting." Claus received $500 from ISME, and his winning poster design will be produced and distributed internationally. Attendees to the ISME 2004 Conference in Tenerife received a copy of the poster in their satchel.

"This was a great opportunity for our graphic design students to have", Associate Professor Ron Bartels said. "Because of the diverse worldwide nature of ISME, this provided our design students with a project that allowed them to research beyond the scope of a typical Lincoln-based entity. This project helped to advance their in-class work for their professional graphic design portfolios, which they rely upon heavily in seeking career opportunities." "The ISME Executive Committee was extremely pleased with the quality of the students' work, and to be sure, the task of selecting the winner was a most difficult one", Oliva said.

On the joyous occasion of the 50th anniversary of the International Society for Music Education, ISME members were asked to share what ISME means to them in celebratory greetings.
 

"The opportunity to participate in ISME for many years has been a most enriching experience both professionally and personally. It has provided many of us with a global perspective of music in its many manifestations, aswell as an appreciation of the dedication of music educators worldwide. May ISME  have a long and celebrated future."

Bob Werner, United States, ISME President 1984-1986, ISME Treasurer 1990-1997, ISME Honorary Life Member

“ISME is always transforming and growing.  For those of us working in Africa, an exciting recent development has been the founding of PASMAE, the Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education.  PASMAE looks forward to celebrate ISME's founding - appropriately on the Equator!

 Caroline van Niekerk, South Africa, ISME Board of Directors, 1994-1998

"ISME opened the door for me to experience new cultures, new music and new friends! Thanks to those who made this possible by founding ISME in 1953. Happy Anniversary ISME!"

Joan Therens, Canada, ISME Secretary-General, 1992-2001, ISME Honorary Life Member

"ISME is the key to getting perspective on the global development of music education with inspiring local identity. Congratulations on ISME's 50th anniversary!"

Yasuharu Takahagi, Japan, ISME President, 1992-94, ISME Honorary Life Member

“I have learned a great deal about music and music teaching from ISME seminars, conferences, and publications.  I've learned the most, though, from the wonderful, diverse, committed group of music educators who are the members - ISME's heart and soul.  Thanks to ISME members and leaders past and present, and best wishes for another fabulous 50!”

Wendy Sims, United States, ISME Board of Directors, 1996 – 2000

"Once in my distant past, ISME was just a booth at an American conference of music teachers.  It wasn't clear to me at first whether this was another touring agency in support of student ensembles, or a professional training institute in a far-away land, or some group to graduate 'up' to once one had 'paid one's dues' in local teaching and in service at the national level. 

"Ikke bare å lese om den, ikke bare å høre den fra innspillinger, ikke bare å observere den på avstand, den musikken våre brødre og søstre langt borte fra der jeg bor, bruker for å uttrykke seg, men å bli invitert til å danse og synge og feire deres musikk og min musikk - sammen, det er hva ISME er for meg. Takk, ISME, for at jeg er blitt vist så mange sterke musikalske brohoder. Takk, ISME, for at jeg har fått lære at det er mitt ansvar å bygge min del av nye musikalske broer."

"I have bet my professional life on the values of The Society (ISME) since its inception, and I have won big! My prize is a bigger picture of a smaller earth, a cherished  family of not so foreign friends, and  an awakening that A-440 is not such an important pitch after all."

Don Robinson, United States, ISME Honorary Life Member

ISME has this tremendous capacity to provide its members with fascinating places to visit, interesting characters to meet and rich ideas to ponder. Few emerge from the experience unaltered and uninspired. I was no exception and found the diet of contrast and novelty - emerging from a diverse membership - immensely rewarding. My gratitude to ISME knows no bounds.

John Ritchie, New Zealand, ISME President, 1990 – 1992

"Minulla oli ilo osallistua kuuteentoista (16) ISME:n maailmankonferenssiin Budapestista `64 Amsterdamiin `96, näistä neljä kertaa yhdessä Tapiolan kuoroni kanssa. Paras mahdollinen foorumi kansainväliseen ystävyyteen ja yhteistyöhön! Kiitos ja onneksi olkoon, ISME!"

“ISME is to me the place where we shared the different taste of music, research and wine.”

 Tadahiro Murao, Japan, ISME Board of Directors, 2000 - 2004

“For music educators around the world, ISME provides intellectual, theoretical and professional strength for the profession we are all proud to call music education.  For the world of this single music educator, ISME provides a continuing source of personal enrichment and friendships that give purpose to my life in music education.

I love ISME's biennial conferences with new cities to discover, new friends to make and old friends to greet.  But there's no need to attend conferences to realise that ISME is a wonderful community, one that, thanks to the magic of technology, allows instant communication between its members.

Ros McMillan, Australia, ISME Board member, 2000-2004

“My professional world has been broadened by the many intercultural experiences of music provided by ISME conferences, enriched by the colleagues I have met in these forums, and deepened by the common vision the ISME community shares on the role of music in the lives of all people, regardless of age, nationality, or world view.

"Meedula 13 edi ndakala oshilyo, ISME okwashiivifange kounyuni. Ngaashi umwe muvashona ovo havalongo nokunongonona eengalo/okwiimba mo Namibia,  Ondali ndapewa omito iwa yoku kundafana, Okupatana, nokwiipa ouyelele, no manyakwa muuluvi wendunge mounyuni okupitila mu ISME. Ondapandula unene nenghono."

"For fifty years, ISME has opened our eyes and ears to the exciting world of music and music education, introduced us to new friends and colleagues, and inspired us to bring quality music education to every child in every corner of the world.  Thank you, ISME, and here's to another fifty years!

Carolynn Lindeman, United States, ISME Board of Directors, 2000-2004     

"For half a century ISME has been the chief architect in the globalization of ideas and practices in music education.  And there is no marketplace in which the benefits of globalization to every participant have been more dramatically evident."

Paul Lehman, United States, ISME Board of Directors, 1988 -1992, ISME Honorary Life Member

"Com a ISME aprendí que educação musical é um direito das crianças, quemúsica é ISME e que não precisa passaporte para transpor fronteiras, está lá, em todo a parte. Feliz 50° aniversário da amizade dos educadores musicais."

"ISME reinforces my view that even though there are a myriad of cultural differences among us, we all believe in music and it's importance for us to help the next generation to love music the way we do.  Long live the ISME!"

Jack Heller, United States, ISME Board of Directors, 1992-96, ISME Research Commission Chair, 1982-1986

“ISME bietet ein großartiges Forum für Musik, Musiker und Musikpädagogen auf der ganzen Welt. Ich habe dort viele gute Freunde gefunden und entscheidende Anregungen erhalten. Auch in ihrem 50. Jahr ist ISME keineswegs nur ein Schmelztiegel der Kulturen, sondern Treffpunkt für all diejenigen, die neue Ideen suchen. Ad multos annos ISME!”

"ISME me dió

- la comprensión y perspectiva de la educación musical en el mundo entero.
- un sentido de internasionalismo
- la oportunidad de ser parte de la comunidad educativo-musical internacional
- una mayor tolerancia hacia las diferencias
- amigos!

“La ISME nació en 1953; yo me asocié en 1966....tantos años juntos, tantos aprendizajes, amigos, lugares alrededor del mundo y buenas músicas.....gracias, ISME, y por favor, sigue adelante!!!!!”

“ISME gir meg det viktigste i all musikkopplæring- dypere forståelse, samhørighet, og intense og gjennomgripende erfaringer. Takk og lykke til med jubileet!”

"ISME is a doorway into a world of new and exciting ideas and experiences. It has been for me the most important part of my professional development, and through it I have been inspired by the many wonderful music educators I have met from around the world.

"In July 1953 I left the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels with the sound of Hindemith's 'Canticle to Hope' ringing in my ears.  My hope then was that music education would be transformed by the members of ISME as they shared together the rich diversity of the world's music.

"ISME me dio la oportunidad de conocer gente hermosa de todo el mundo, hacer buenos amigos, disfrutar de la extraordinaria riqueza y diversidad musical que cada pueblo ofrece, y aprender mucho de las reflexiones de mis colegas acerca de la educacion musical. Gracias ISME!"

“ISME é um maravilhoso oásis para educadores musicais em todo o mundo:

- Solta boa energia
- Mobiliza corações
- Exalta mentes e espíritos."

“ISME represents an international chorus of dedicated and differing voices; of critical dialogues in advocating, naming and transforming music education and improving music educators' professionalism and status; of identifying, encouraging and coming to understand what it is we know and do not know, along with what is we do, how we do it and why.