November 08, 2024 I Award
WMEA Honors NAMM Outgoing Director Mary Luehrsen
From left: Brass Bell Music's Tristann Reick, NAMM's Mary Luehrsen, Heid Music's DeDe and Todd Heid, Music Achievement Council's Marcia Neel and WMEA's Laurie Fellenz.
On Oct. 23, Mary Luehrsen, NAMM’s outgoing director of public affairs and government relations, was honored by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) with the 2024 WMEA Music Industry Award. This award celebrates an individual who has made significant contributions and provided exceptional support to school music programs.
“WMEA is proud to present this year’s Music Industry Award to a Wisconsinite who has impacted music education across the state, the country and the world,” said Laurie Fellenz, WMEA executive director.
Throughout her career, Luehrsen has been a dedicated music advocate, committed to advancing and supporting music education. As director of public affairs and government relations for NAMM, and a former music teacher and professional musician, Luehrsen has guided NAMM and its partners on policy issues and legislation that impact access to music education in the U.S. Luehrsen’s creation of NAMM’s GenNext and Music Education Days programs has inspired thousands of university music faculty, students and music educators to pursue careers in music, connect with the music industry and expand opportunities for music learning.
The award took on additional special meaning for Fellenz when she shared a personal message: “When you find yourself on your life’s professional journey as a woman in a field like the one I’m in, and you become an executive director, sometimes you don’t always have female role models who have been females in those roles to look towards and look up to.” She went on to express that Luehrsen’s grace and leadership have been a source of inspiration for her.
NAMM members Tristann Reick, owner of Brass Bell Music in Milwaukee, and DeDe and Todd Heid, owners of Heid Music in Appleton, Wisconsin, were onsite for the event.
