Two Slippery Rock University music education majors earned national recognition this summer, representing the University at the 2026 Modern Band Summit, a highly selective gathering of music educators and student leaders from across the country.
Keira Mayhue, a senior from Altoona (Altoona HS), and Ethan Aeschbacher, a senior from Midland (Western Beaver HS), were invited to serve as collegiate ambassadors for SRU at the event, July 22-24, in Fort Collins, Colorado, where they gained hands-on industry experience and networked with professionals.
“I almost thought being selected for the conference was too good to be true,” said Mayhue. “It’s a super competitive, going head-to-head with hundreds of talented musicians and hard-working students across the entire country.”
Hosted by Music Will, a national nonprofit organization that brings contemporary music education into K–12 schools, the Modern Band Summit is an annual professional development conference focused on modern band curricula. Unlike traditional band programs that rely heavily on classical repertoire, the modern band approach centers on contemporary popular genres like rock, pop, hip-hop and blues to engage students.
“At Modern Band Summit, you’re learning how to let your students be rocks stars, and you’re learning how to facilitate that kind of music within the classroom,” Mayhue said. “In my mind, modern band was more of an extracurricular, so getting to network with educators who teach the subject as their full-time job, and being able to hear everything behind the scenes was really cool for me.”
As ambassadors, Mayhue and Aeschbacher assisted with equipment and worked directly alongside industry experts. For Mayhue, the experience offered practical skills and a valuable perspective on her future career in the classroom.
“I’ve always felt strongly about representing students, especially when it comes to music,” said Mayhue. “I remember being young and never wanting to play Mozart or Beethoven, and as a college level musician, I value and appreciate the brilliance of that art, but I want students to feel represented in the music that they are playing. Already, I can see how I would use what I learned at this conference within my classroom.”
The selection of Mayhue and Aeschbacher underscores the continued excellence coming from SRU’s music education program, proving its dedication to developing students into confident leaders and professionals. In the evolving landscape of music education, SRU stands as an institution that fosters growth at every opportunity.
“The Music Department has so many clubs, organizations and opportunities for leadership,” Mayhue said. “I’ve been able to serve on multiple e-boards for clubs, and the staff are nothing but supportive. They always expect a lot from you, and they really try to push you, but it’s always because they want the best for you. I’ve never met a professor within the department that I felt was trying to hold me back. It’s so supportive, with a great community as well.”
More information about the Modern Band Summit is available on the Music Will website.
More information about the music education program at SRU can be found on the program’s webpage.
