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Wendy Stuart Named MASTA Teacher of the Year
Troy High School Orchestra Director Teacher of the Year at the Michigan Music Conference
Wendy Stuart, the Orchestra Director at Troy High School, has been named the 2025 Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (MASTA). The announcement was made on Friday, January 24, 2025, during the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, where Stuart was honored for her exceptional contributions to string education in Michigan.
The MASTA Teacher of the Year award recognizes educators who have dedicated at least a decade to teaching in Michigan, demonstrated excellence in music performance and education, and provided outstanding service to string education in the state. Wendy Stuart exemplifies these qualities, inspiring countless students and setting the standard for music education through her leadership at Troy High School.
When asked about the award, Stuart said, “I’m so honored to have been named MASTA Teacher of the Year. I learned only the morning the award was presented that it was a former student, now orchestra teacher, who nominated me. That alone was incredibly meaningful to me. I am grateful to all of the students I’ve worked with over the years. They truly inspire me daily to be more creative in my teaching and I love being able to share my love of music with them.”
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Stuart began her teaching career in Ohio, spending 10 years building a string program before moving to Michigan. She taught in Clarkston Community Schools for 21 years, building their strings program from its early stages to a highly regarded, robust program. Stuart became the director of the Troy High School Orchestras in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters of Music in Music Education from the University of Michigan. She has also studied conducting internationally. In her spare time, Stuart is the principal cellist for the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, the assistant principal cellist for the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, and a Director with Oakland Youth Orchestras.
MASTA exists to support music educators by providing resources for classroom and private studio instruction. Its Teacher of the Year award alternates annually between recognizing classroom teachers, like Stuart, and studio teachers, reflecting the organization’s commitment to all facets of string education. For more information about MASTA and its awards, visit https://astamichigan.org/
