Richard J. Colwell is in the Music Educators Hall of Fame and received special citations from the International Society for Music Education, Illinois Music Educators Association, and National Federation of Music Clubs. He founded the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education and the Quarterly Journal of Music Teaching and Learning.

Michael Hewitt is Professor of Music Education at the University of Maryland School of Music, and founder and director of the University of Maryland Terrapin Music Camp, a day camp that reaches nearly 500 middle and high school musicians each summer.

Mark Fonder is Professor Emeritus of Music Education at Ithaca College where he conducted the Concert Band and chaired their Music Education Department. He was also chair of the Editorial Board of the Music Educators Journal and has taught elementary through university level instrumental music education for over 35 years.