Anne Boyer receives Outstanding Elementary Music Educator of the Year award

Courtesy photo/Anne Boyer

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Anne Boyer (second from right), received the Outstanding Elementary Music Educator of the Year award from Sam Tsugawa, Utah Music Education president-elect; Ellen Kirkbride, Western Division president of the National Association for Music Education and Don Peterson, Utah Music Education president.

AMERICAN FORK — Anne Boyer received the Outstanding Elementary Music Educator of the Year award from the Utah Music Educators Association for her work with the American Fork Elementary School Band Program.

Boyer has taught in high schools and elementary schools for 34 years. She and her husband, Alan, and son, James, are members of Saint Peter Parish, where they have served as musicians for 15 years.

"Anne is one of the most dedicated people I know," said John Miller, director of bands at American Fork High School. He has worked with Boyer for about 15 years.

"She develops a strong relationship with her students; they just love her," Miller said. "She is kind of like a mother hen to them. When she worked at the high school, the students really related to her and listened to how well she played her own horn. They tried to emulate the kinds of things she did. She would come to all the rehearsals and go on the trips with us. Then, when she took over the elementary band, she really related to the younger kids and they looked up to her. She has produced, in a short period of time, what I think is one of the finest elementary band programs that I have ever seen. I was blown away at the mature sound they had for only playing for such a short time."

When Boyer received the award, "it was an amazing accomplishment," said Miller. "Everyone on the UMEA board knows her and sees the fine work she does. I’m grateful to have her as part of our staff in the American Fork Band program. She is a key part of the program."

Boyer, a trumpet/cornet player, has played in many symphony and chamber orchestras, and high-level British brass bands. She is a founding member of Utah Premiere Brass, a core member of the Utah Wind Symphony and a member of the Salt Lake Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble.

The Boyer family moved to Utah from the United Kingdom in 1998.

Boyer gained experience teaching in high schools and elementary schools in the U.K. She transitioned to elementary education as a classroom teacher and music specialist, and then worked as an elementary school principal for five years before moving to the United States.

In August, Boyer became the assistant director of bands and orchestras at American Fork Junior High School. In addition to teaching school, she maintains a private studio of 22 trumpet players. She has served as festival director for the Peaks Jazz Festival for several years and enjoys working with band directors and students from across the state, she said.

The love of her musical life is the American Fork elementary band, an ensemble she has directed for more than 10 years, she said. "Each year the program provides instrumental instruction for over 100 fifth- and sixth-graders who feed into the American Fork Junior High program.

"My greatest joy is to see elementary band students grow in confidence and go on to become active members of their junior high and high school bands," Boyer said. "It doesn’t really matter what age group I teach, I just tailor the fundamentals. For me, I have to have a passion for the subject and a desire to communicate that passion and encourage others to pick up the torch and run with it. I believe that music is a powerful tool for teaching life skills: team work, cooperation, reliability, perseverance, discipline and much more."

In 2009, Boyer served as the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations liturgical assistant. She also served as liturgical assistant for the National Council of Catholic Women. She began her association with the NCCW in 2004 as National Church Commission Chair. NCCW created the role of liturgical assistant in 2006 and asked Boyer to fill the position. Boyer also served as the church commission chair on the Salt Lake Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.