Marci DeAmbrose

<b>Dr. Marci Malone DeAmbrose</b> is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Music Education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She brings more than twenty years of teaching experience in music education across elementary, middle school, secondary, and postsecondary contexts. Prior to her appointment at UNL, she served as a general and vocal music educator in diverse K–12 settings, including Title I elementary schools, middle schools, alternative high school programs, and comprehensive secondary choral programs. In these roles, she taught general and vocal music, directed multiple choral ensembles, developed inclusive instructional practices for diverse learners, and contributed to district-level curriculum development. These experiences provide a strong applied foundation for her current work in teacher preparation.<br>At the postsecondary level, Dr. DeAmbrose has taught applied voice, choral ensembles, and music education coursework at Doane University, Concordia University, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Since joining UNL, she has served as Instructor of Record for undergraduate and graduate courses central to the music education curriculum, including Introduction to Music Education, Field Experience, Choral Music Methods, University Chorale, Voice Skills, Beyond the Concert Choir, Engaging Student Learning, Seminar in Music Education, and Expert Teaching in Music Education. She also developed and introduced two new courses, Lab Choir and Voice Techniques, to strengthen the preparation of future vocal and choral music educators by integrating foundational vocal technique with applied pedagogical practice through structured lab experiences and guided peer teaching.<br>Dr. DeAmbrose’s research interests span all formal levels of music education and focus on improving music teaching and learning at the intersection of vocal pedagogy, inclusive music education, student identity development, and applied teacher preparation. Her scholarship examines adolescents’ attitudes toward singing and choir participation, culturally responsive teaching in the elementary music classroom, and the experiences of preservice music teachers engaged in inclusive and intergenerational community choir settings. She has presented her research at regional, national, and international conferences, including the International Society for Music Education (ISME) World Conference, the Music in Schools and Teacher Education Commission (MISTEC) seminars, Vision of Research in Music Education (VRME), the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), the Nebraska Music Educators Association (NMEA), and the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) In-Service Workshop.<br>In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. DeAmbrose is actively engaged in professional service and creative activity. She currently serves as a commissioner for MISTEC, contributing to international collaboration and the planning of biennial seminars, including the 2024 seminar in Tallinn, Estonia. Her choral ensembles have performed at the National Association for Music Education National Conference and collaborated with professional arts organizations, including the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. In recognition of her impact as an educator, she was named a semifinalist for the 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Award.<br>Dr. DeAmbrose holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Baker University, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and an Artist Diploma in Opera Performance from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She is committed to advancing music education through research-informed practice, inclusive pedagogy, and meaningful music-making opportunities for all learners.