The American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA) is proud to announce that Sue Mueller has been selected to receive the prestigious AOSA Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to music education and the Orff Schulwerk community over the past 40 years.
Sue’s impact on music education spans multiple dimensions—from her 27 years teaching K-5 music in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas to her decade of service at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she taught undergraduate and graduate music education courses and served as Director of the School of Music from 2014 until her retirement in 2021.
As a founding board member of Nevada’s Desert Valley Chapter (NDVC), Sue has been instrumental in shaping AOSA at both the chapter and national levels. She served NDVC as Secretary, Treasurer, and President before ascending to national leadership roles, including Regional Representative, Vice President, President (2005-2007), and National Conference Chair for three conferences spanning 2000-2017.
During her presidency, Sue guided AOSA through critical transitions, including the retirement
of longtime Executive Director Cindi Wobig and the hiring of the organization’s first Executive Director with a nonprofit management background. She spent countless hours helping new leadership understand the inner workings of AOSA and music education, while simultaneously steering the organization toward becoming a paperless entity in an increasingly digital world.
Sue’s leadership and visionary commitment to the organization helped lay the groundwork for the 2012 curriculum guidelines revision that created AOSA’s unified curriculum. Her ability to navigate the initial conversations in this complex and emotionally charged process with dignity, empathy, and a solutions-oriented mindset exemplified the very best of servant leadership during a pivotal moment in AOSA’s history.
For 30 years, Sue taught at the UNLV Orff Summer Teacher Education Course and has taught basic Orff Schulwerk pedagogy at institutions across the country, including Stetson, Central Florida, Samford (Alabama), Boise (Idaho), and California. She has taught all three levels of basic training, as well as movement and recorder courses, and has hosted numerous Level 1 apprentices throughout her career.
Colleagues and former students consistently praise Sue’s ability to build inclusive communities in her courses. Her gift for recognizing creative potential in others and helping them see that potential in themselves has inspired countless educators to pursue their own paths in Orff Schulwerk teacher education.
Sue has mentored hundreds of pre-service and young teachers in the Las Vegas area and beyond. As a nationally recognized workshop clinician, she has presented at AOSA and National Association for Music Education (NAfME) conferences throughout the United States and Canada, sharing her creativity, playfulness, and student-centered approach with music educators nationwide.
Her professional achievements include service on AOSA’s Curriculum Oversight Review Committee (CORS) and Basic Teacher Educator Apprenticeship Program (BTEAP), as well as authorship of two teaching resources: Simply Speaking and Simply Beginning. Sue holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Kansas, a Master of Education from Lesley College, and Level I-III and Masters class Orff Schulwerk certification.
Sue has previously received Honorary Membership for service to AOSA and the Nevada Desert Valley Chapter of AOSA’s Lifetime Service Award.
Known for her approachable nature, generous spirit, and sense of humor, Sue embodies AOSA’s mission in everything she does. Whether teaching elementary students with patience and joy, guiding teacher candidates through their certification, or leading national conferences with consummate professionalism, Sue consistently demonstrates the highest standards of excellence in music education.
Her dedication to growing Orff Schulwerk teachers has had an undeniable influence on generations of music educators, and her caring mentorship will have a lasting effect on students for years to come.