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Carrie Nicholas is in her 23rd year as an elementary general music specialist, currently teaching K-5 general music in Lakewood, CO. She received her bachelor’s degree of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Music Education with Kodály Emphasis from Colorado State University, completing her Level III Kodály certification in 2005. She is an active presenter; having shared sessions and presentations for various school districts, county and state music education conferences, and OAKE chapters and conferences. Carrie is a proud member of OAKE and currently serves as Member at Large on the OAKE board. She is past president of ROCKE (the Regional Organization of Colorado Kodály Educators) and past president of the OAKE Western Division. Carrie has taught at the Colorado Kodály Institute and Seattle Kodály Levels Program as Level III Pedagogy and Folk Song Analysis instructor. When she is not teaching or presenting, Carrie enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and enjoying the Colorado outdoors with her family. Carrie co-hosts the podcast “Music Teacher Coffee Talk” with her colleague and friend, Tanya LeJeune  

Nyssa Brown is an international arts education consultant with Music Ed Forward who works with arts educators around the globe to build student-centered, concept-driven, inquiry-based music curriculum. With 25 years of teaching experience with both students and adults, Nyssa empowers learners of all ages to build on their current knowledge and envision new possibilities. 

Nyssa has 18 years of experience in elementary and secondary music classrooms, as well as teaching and leadership experience at the team, school, district, state, national and international levels.  Ms. Brown served on the writing committee for the National Core Arts Standards and is an Erickson and Lanning Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction Certified Trainer. She was one of ten finalists for 2004 Minnesota Teacher of the Year and received a prestigious Milken Educator Award in 2004 from the Milken Family Foundation. 

Passionate about teaching in a global context, Nyssa taught at American School of the Hague and the International School of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, The American Embassy School in New Delhi, India and in both Namibia and South Africa, through a fellowship offered by the Eastman School of Music's Umculo: The Kimberley Project. Nyssa is a faculty member of the Kodály Levels Courses at Indiana University and the University of St. Thomas. With a focus on strong relationships and collaborative processes, she aims to help transform students, teachers and communities through music education.