Nielsen named Nebraska music educator of the year

Lincoln Public Schools Supervisor of Music Lance Nielsen was recently named Nebraska’s 2021-22 Outstanding Music Educator of the Year. The Nebraska School Activities Association in collaboration with the Nebraska Music Educators Association nominated him for the honor, which was awarded by the National Federation of State High School Association.

Nominations are based on outstanding service and unselfish devotion to interscholastic music by high school or college music educators. He was formally honored with the award at the Nebraska Music Educators Association’s annual awards banquet on Nov. 18.

Nielsen’s career began in 1991 at Kimball Public Schools, where he taught grades 5-12 instrumental music. His career also includes stops at the Norris School District, Lincoln East High School and Doane College. In 2014 he took on his current role at LPS, where he oversees the district’s preK-12 music programs. In addition to leading award-winning music programs at LPS, Nielsen continues to impact music education as a clinician, speaker and author. Nielsen is praised for his innovative and servant leadership, which drew high praise in the past year during the pandemic.

It’s the second year in a row that an LPS music educator won the award. Del Whitman from East High School won the award in 2020.

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