Sharon Parks, a founding member of the Kodály Music Educators of Kansas, was full of unconditional love and unending joy in all of her life's endeavors. As a teacher, she was incredibly energetic and believed that she could change the lives of her students through the music and love she shared with them. In our chapter, she filled each event with joyfulness and was always eager to share a song, story, puppet show, or singing game! The Sharon Parks Memorial Scholarship was founded in the fall of 2012 to assist those who strive to bring high-quality music education to the children of Kansas.
The purpose of the Sharon Parks Memorial Scholarship is to provide partial funding to a KMEK member toward study in the Wichita State University Kodály Certification program. - Judy Mareda, Scholarship Co-Founder
Past Recipients
2023: Ben Wang 2022: Rachel Hunt and Melinda Harper 2019: Ada May and Claire Drevets 2018: Ashley Wolf and Jia Liang Chew 2016: Erin Buster & Kari Plagmann 2015: Heather Ryan & Laura Klaassen 2014: Angie Huck, Tillie Ehresman, & Matt Nutter 2013 Inaugural Scholarship Recipients: Lindsay Jervis & Kim Noller
Congratulations to the 2023 Sharon Parks Memorial Scholarship recipient!
Ben Wang, Level 1 Secondary
Here is a bit of what this year’s recipient had to say about their interest in studying the Kodaly process:
As an aspiring music educator, I initially became interested in the Kodaly Concept of Music Education because of its foundation of equipping students with music literacy skills that I found I lacked when I entered college. Now as a professional with a year of elementary teaching experience and a career of secondary teaching on the horizon, I’ve discovered that the Kodaly process does more than teach skills: it establishes a dynamic critical thinking environment, it promotes cultural and historical understanding of music, and above all entrusts the teacher with fostering a love of music within each of their students. As my new school’s first ever choir teacher, I intend to build its program upon this philosophy.
What I find most compelling about the Kodaly Concept is its emphasis on process over product. Instead of modeling my new program after the performance- or product-based model of secondary choir, I can make good use of my elementary experience and the Kodaly Concept to develop a curriculum and teaching style that is dynamic and enriching with a world music focus.