Cedar Island Elementary School music specialist named Elementary Music Educator of the Year

Stefan Wolf, the music specialist at Cedar Island Elementary School, was recently named Minnesota Music Education Association's (MMEA)  Elementary Music Educator of the Year. This award recognizes exemplary music teachers throughout Minnesota that have demonstrated excellence in teaching, leadership and advocacy in music education. 

Wolf’s passion for music started young as a student in Osseo Area Schools. He began singing in elementary school and participated in the District 279 children’s choir. In sixth grade, he started playing percussion and got his first drum set. As a senior in high school, he knew he wanted to work in education but realized he wanted to work in music education after his choir teacher at Maple Grove Senior High School, Beth Hellstedt, took them to a choral festival at St. Olaf. He began college thinking he wanted to work with older students but soon found his passion was in elementary music. 

“It is cool working with elementary students because you get to form their passion for music. I get to work with 100 percent of students and there are so many options of what you can do,” Wolf said. “We play recorders and xylophones and drums, and we sing and dance and move. It is more than just a rehearsal to get ready for a concert. We just get to be musical in different ways.” 

Wolf’s favorite part of his job is working with students in the Modern Band and with the 80 students who come in Tuesday mornings for choir. He loves the variety in his day and seeing students get excited about music. 

“My goal isn’t just for them to learn musical skills, but to create musical people who aren’t afraid to be musical,” Wolf said. 

Wolf has shared how to bring pop music to students, work within their music vernacular and make their music feel real in their education throughout the district at staff developments and at conferences across the Midwest, and will present at a national convention next year as well. His take on music education and passion for bringing active music-making experiences to his students contributed to him being named the MMEA Elementary Music Educator of the Year.

“It is humbling,” Wolf said about winning the award. “You don’t go into teaching to win the awards, but it feels really nice that people value this take on music education and going at music in a way that lights a fire in kids.”