The mission of the Council for General Music Education is to encourage and improve the quality of teaching and research in general music at all levels with particular attention given to general music instruction from preschool through grade 8.

NAfME Council for General Music Education Back-to-School Message from Chair Steph Benischek

Session recordings from the 3rd Annual NAfME General Music Virtual Mini-Conference are available to registrants through May 15, and then to all NAfME Academy subscribers.

Find Council resources in the NAfME Resource Library, searchable by teaching area, level, type of resource, and more.

Steph Benischek Headshot

Steph Benischek

Chair, General Music Education Council

Stephanie Benischek teaches K-5 general music at Star Elementary School in Star, Idaho. She received her Bachelor of Music Education in 1997 and Kodály certification in 2002 from Nebraska Wesleyan…

Council Members

Steph Benischek (2024-2026) Chair
Elementary General Music Educator
Star Elementary School
Meridian, Idaho
Rob Lyda (2024-2026) Past Chair
Music Teacher
Cary Woods Elementary School
Auburn, Alabama
Molly Park (2024-2026), Eastern Division Representative
Music Teacher
Howard County Public School System
Columbia, Maryland
BethAnn Hepburn (2025-2027), North Central Division Representative
General Music and Beginning Choir Director
Streetsboro City Schools
Streetsboro, Ohio
Estela Torres Guernsey (2024-2026), Northwest Division Representative
General and Instrumental Music Teacher
Paintbrush Elementary School
Gillette, Wyoming
Vacant (2025-2027), Southern Division Representative
Gail Shriver (2024-2026) Southwestern Division Representative
General Music Teacher/Choir Director
Meadow Lane Elementary
Olathe, Kansas
Rene Canto-Adams (2025-2027), Western Division Representative
Jonathan Dillon (2025-2026), Member-at-Large Representative
Assistant Professor of Music Education
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Ashleigh Lore (2025-2026), Member-at-Large Representative
BK-4th Elementary Educator & Education & Outreach Coordinator
Grand Ledge Public Schools & Lansing Symphony Orchestra
Lansing, Michigan
Kim Bruguier
National Executive Board Liaison
NAfME
Mitchell, South Dakota
Laura Reed, Staff Liaison
Professional Learning and Publications Manager
NAfME
What does Tri-M mean to you? Tri-M Alumnus Madelynn W.
Lee University Graduate Studies in Music offering a Master of Music in wind conducting, performance, choral conducting. Learn more. Music with purpose.
Advertisement: Support Music Education. Click to donate.