Frank Halferty elected to Washington Music Educators Hall of Fame

Einstein Middle School band director Frank Halferty with Einstein group.
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools.

Frank Halferty, band director and music department head at Einstein Middle School in Shoreline, has been elected to the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) Hall of Fame.

The Washington Music Educators Association is the largest arts organization in the state, and represents more than 2,000 music teachers in the state of Washington.

In 1996, WMEA established the Washington Music Educators Hall of Fame, to honor outstanding music teachers who have shown a long-time contribution to music in the state. 

Criteria include excellence in teaching, a significant contribution to music beyond the classroom, and work done in a number of ways at the state and regional level. Hall of Fame nominees must also have brought about substantial improvements in the educational process, and have contributed significantly to the betterment of the profession through exemplary service. The award honors not just great teaching, but also acknowledges many contributions that recipients have made to the cause of music education throughout the state.

Frank Halferty, WMEA Hall of Fame

Halferty, himself a graduate of Shoreline High School, joins Einstein and Shorewood orchestral music director and WMEA president-elect Dan Wing in the Hall. John Law, Neil Lieurance, and Ken Noreen, retired Shoreline School District music teachers, are also in the Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held February 17, 2012 in Yakima, during the WMEA conference.

Halferty has taught at Einstein since 1993 and serves as the District Music Coordinator. He holds two Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Seattle Pacific University in Music Education and Music Theory and Literature. He received a Master of Music in Composition from New Mexico State University.

Currently Halferty has more than 200 compositions and arrangements in print, most recently the Folk Song Trilogy performed by the Shoreline School District Honor Choir in its recent concert with the Cascade Youth Symphony at Benaroya Hall.  (See previous story)

Halferty has 36 years of experience teaching instrumental music at all levels, and has held numerous positions as director of choirs and community groups. He is the recipient of 14 ASCAP awards, Outstanding Educator Awards in both the Shoreline and Lake Washington School Districts, and the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Sno-King Music Educators Association. Halferty has also served as a board member of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council. He maintains a busy schedule composing, fulfilling music administration and teaching duties, guest conducting, and adjudicating music festivals.