Mankato East's Andrea Brinkman-Waterbury selected NFHS Outstanding Music Educator for Minnesota

Through all she does as a music educator, Mankato East’s Andrea Brinkman-Waterbury hopes to create authentic musical experiences for her students. Creating musical growth and memorable moments are plentiful, but at the center of it is Brinkman-Waterbury, whose guidance and leadership are always student-centered. 

Be it through a Minnesota State High School League contest experience, as a director of an Honors Choir with the American Choral Directors Association, a European tour that makes rich, traditional music have greater meaning to teaching Unified Music at Mankato East High School, Brinkman-Waterbury is determined to bring meaningful music opportunities to enrich all students. 

“The No. 1 thing is to keep students human, to have these present experiences, and music allows that to happen,” said Brinkman-Waterbury, in her 22nd year as a music educator. “Music is profound and magical. We can do it alone, but it is so much better when we are together. We are creating community through musical experiences.” 

Brinkman-Waterbury has been selected as the recipient of the NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award for Minnesota. As the Minnesota recipient, she is eligible for the Section 5 Award that will be announced in January. Section 5 of the NFHS state associations includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.

She is a music educator who is innovative and involves students in their learning with a variety of creative and effective methods. Through her education and leadership, she has been an inspirational role model to all students and musicians. As an educator of high integrity and strong character, students and staff constantly benefit from her energy, abilities and leadership. 

Brinkman-Waterbury is also highly involved in curriculum development and was responsible for the implementation of a new music class called Unified Music. This is a collaborative class that combines students of all abilities and demonstrates that music can be experienced and beneficial to all types of learners.

“The class is designed to offer a diverse student population authentic musical experiences through the participation in the creation of music from a variety of musical styles and cultures,” she said. “It serves to be fully inclusive and aims to provide opportunities for first-hand musical experiences for all students through the use of an embodied curriculum. The students in Unified Music play, dance, and interpret music with their entire bodies.”

The League congratulates Brinkman-Waterbury for her statewide recognition by the NFHS and thanks her for enriching the student musical experience through her guidance and leadership.