NHS’s Robinson Honored as Top Indiana Music Educator

Noblesville Schools has announced that Noblesville High School’s jazz director and assistant band director Bethany Robinson has been named the Outstanding High School Music Educator of the Year by the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA).

Robinson was presented with the honor on Jan. 13 during the Indiana All-State Jazz Ensemble Concert, which featured four of her student musicians performing in the top state honor band.

“Bethany has grown our jazz programming into the national powerhouse it is today through the commitment, expertise and passion she brings to her students and our school every day,” shared Dr. Craig McCaffrey, principal at Noblesville High School.

Her reach and influence extend far beyond the Noblesville community and we’re so proud and thankful to call her one of our own.”

Robinson began teaching music in 2005 at Noblesville Schools, and currently serves as the jazz band director and assistant band director at Noblesville High School. She is the chair of the National Association for Music Education Jazz Council, and president of the Indiana Jazz Educators Association.

Robinson was named 2014 Indiana Jazz Educator of the Year, 2015 Noblesville Schools Teacher of the Year and was a 2016 Indiana Teacher of the Year semi-finalist. She is a two-time national Grammy educator finalist, two-time Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellow and has served as the keynote speaker at multiple music conferences including the 2021 Australia National Band and Orchestra Conference. She was also named the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Hero in 2022.

Robinson’s top jazz ensemble placed second at the National Jazz Festival and was also named a two-time finalist for the Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival, landing one of the coveted 15 spots out of all the high school jazz bands in North America.

She is a YAMAHA Performing Artist, and an avid performer on upright bass, electric bass and vocals throughout the United States.