Cheryl Lavender
Cheryl Lavender, Doctor of Music Education (honoris causa), is internationally recognized as a master music educator, composer, clinician and keynote speaker. Having taught music for 37 years from elementary through university levels, Cheryl maintains an active writing/speaking schedule through Hal Leonard.
Cheryl’s 50+ music resources include games, songs, and teaching strategies. Popular titles: ROUND the World, World Partners, Beautiful Music - Beautiful Children posters, The Ultimate Music Assessment and Evaluation Kit, Making Each Minute Count, Songs of the Rainbow Children, Rhythm/Melody Flash Cards, and the popular Bingo series.
In 2016, Cheryl was awarded a DMusEd (h.c.) degree from VanderCook College of Music. She is a contributing composer for MacMillan/McGraw-Hill textbook Spotlight On Music and John Jacobson's Music Express magazine. In 2005, Cheryl received the WMEA Distinguished Service Award and the Central Michigan University Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2004, she was awarded the NEA Arts@Work $5000 grant funding the school's piano lab. In 1996, she taught in South Africa for Eisenhower Citizen Ambassadors. In 1993, Cheryl received Elmbrook School’s Outstanding Teacher Award.
Cheryl's enthusiasm for teaching music and her love for children make her one of the most sought-after clinicians in music education.
Cheryl's academic background includes a music education degree from Central Michigan University and graduate work at Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin, and VanderCook College of Music. Cheryl and her husband, Paul, reside in Brookfield, WI.
