Fred Willman, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music and Education at UMSL, was inducted Jan. 27 into the Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. (Photo by August Jennewein)

Fred Willman, Curators’ Teaching Professor of Music and Education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, has influenced music education and music educators for almost half a century. His contributions were recognized in January with his induction into the Missouri Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

Robert Nordman, chair of the Department of Music at UMSL and fellow MMEA Hall of Fame member, points out that Willman’s induction follows a number of other accomplishments including the UM System’s President’s Award for Outstanding Teaching and the Governor’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

“Fred has been a hall of famer for a long while,” Nordman says. “Now it is official.”

Willman joined UMSL’s music faculty in 1977. He’s the coordinator of music education, director of graduate studies in music and coordinator of music technology.

“I feel very honored that my colleagues, not just here on campus but across the state, feel that I am deserving of this recognition,” he says.

Willman became UMSL’s fourth faculty member to receive this honor, along with Nordman, Aurelia Hartenberger and Douglas Turpin (emeritus).

This story was originally published in the spring 2012 issue of UMSL Magazine.