For his distinguished contributions to the arts, Don Ester ’80 was initiated as a National Arts Associate by the Iota Chi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota in March. A music major at IWU, Don is a music education professor at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. He received the 1998 Ball State University Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2006 Indiana Outstanding University Music Educator of the Year Award. He holds a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University, where he studied choral conducting and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Don has taught in the public schools as well as at the university level, and has served as a full-time church musician.  A frequent guest conductor and clinician for choirs of all ages, he founded and directed the White River Youth Choir from 1994 to 2008, leading them on performing tours in the US, Brazil, and Japan. His research and publications focuses on music literacy pedagogy, the adolescent voice, and instructional strategies. An accomplished pianist/accompanist and singer, he is also a past National Chair of the Society for Music Teacher Education. Don’s wife is Carol (Gore), also Class of 1980.