Alumna Nominated for International Music Award

Alumna Dr. Kathy L. Scherler, assistant professor of music education at Oklahoma Baptist University, has been nominated for the International Music Council’s “Music Rights Award.”

The International Music Council is a UNESCO council comprised of music committees in 70 countries. The IMC Music Rights Awards are given to programs or projects that support, in an exemplary way, one or more of the Five Music Rights enunciated by the Council. The Five Music Rights Awards are competitive and selected by committee, evaluating the submissions of individuals and groups whose work furthers the Council's focus.

“It is an honor to be nominated for this award,” said Scherler. “The true recipients are these brave students that in spite of their circumstances continue to sing and make music. They inspire us all to persevere and live resilient lives.”

In June 2016, Dr. Scherler founded the “Oasis Summer Music Camp” which provides music instruction to children and young adults in the “Mosaic” domestic violence shelter, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Dr. Scherler has developed a music curriculum based on the Five Music Rights. After presenting a paper describing the shelter music camp at the Music Council of the Three Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico last fall, Dr. Scherler’s work was nominated by the Executive Director and CEO of the Music Teacher’s National Association, Dr. Gary Ingle.

Dr. Scherler graduated from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) in 1982 from with a Masters in Music and an emphasis in vocal performance.

She currently coordinates the Music Education program in the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts and is in her third year of teaching at OBU.