MARYVILLE, Mo. – John Bell, director of bands and orchestra and artist-in-residence at Northwest Missouri State University, will be awarded the 2016 Collegiate Educator Award, presented by the Missouri Chapter of the American String Association (MO-ASTA), Jan 28 at the 2016 Missouri Music Educators Association Conference.

Bell was selected through an open nomination process of MO-ASTA members with at least five years of teaching experience in Missouri. Recipients also must have taught and exhibited exemplary work at the collegiate level.

“In his time at Northwest, John has done excellent work as director of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra and teaching our string methods, conducting and music education courses,” said Dr. William Richardson, professor of music and assistant chair of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. “He is a fine conductor, rehearsal technician, musician, mentor and colleague, and I know that he appreciates the hard work of our orchestra students and the music faculty – particularly Monty Carter and Dr. Ernest Kramer – who contribute to the success of the Symphony Orchestra. We are very proud of Mr. Bell and his contribution to strings and music education at Northwest.”

Bell joined the Northwest faculty in 2013. In addition to conducting the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra at Northwest, his duties include teaching instrumental conducting, advanced instrumental conducting and string methods. He also supervises instrumental music education student teachers, and is a co-director of the Northwest Summer Music Camp.