Daniel Albert

Daniel Albert is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is also affiliated with the Department of Music and Dance. He holds a Bachelor of Music (summa cum laude) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Michigan State University.

Before joining UMass Amherst, Albert served as an Assistant Professor of Music, Human Development, and Learning at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. His career began with 11 years of teaching general music and instrumental music at Glenbrook and Williams Middle Schools in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. He has held leadership roles in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Arts Education Advisory Council.

Albert’s research focuses on pre-service and in-service music teacher identity, music education curricula, mentoring practices, and the role of culture and community in music education. He emphasizes partnerships with K-12 educators and arts organizations, such as the Community Music School of Springfield, to develop programs that enhance student learning through artist-in-residence initiatives and commissioning projects.

He has presented at conferences like the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the International Society for Music Education (ISME), and his work has been featured in journals including the Journal of Research in Music Education and Music Education Research. Albert received the MMEA’s Lowell Mason Award for outstanding leadership in music education.

His professional activities include conducting regional honors ensembles, participating in conducting symposia, and freelancing as a percussionist. He studied percussion with renowned instructors such as Eduardo Leandro and has collaborated with composers to innovate music education practices.