Faculty Profiles

Dr. Alyssa Avenatti is a music educator, researcher, and choral conductor whose work focuses on teacher preparation, reflective practice, and meaningful approaches to teaching and learning in music education. At Texas State University, she works closely with student teachers, supporting their development as thoughtful, responsive educators in elementary and choral music settings.

Dr. Avenatti earned her PhD in Music Education from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. She holds a Master of Music Education degree with a specialization in Kodály pedagogy, along with certifications in Orff Schulwerk and Smithsonian Folkways World Music Pedagogy. Her scholarly interests include elementary and choral music pedagogy, curricular decision-making, and the alignment between teachers’ beliefs, instructional practices, and student learning.

Grounded in her experiences as a public school music teacher, performer, and researcher, Dr. Avenatti is deeply committed to mentoring emerging educators and fostering communities of inquiry around teaching practice. She has presented research and practitioner-focused workshops nationally and has taught and supervised music education students at institutions including Indiana University, Loyola University Maryland, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Trinity University. In addition to her university work, she serves as Executive Director of the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio and continues to work directly with youth as a choral conductor, maintaining an active connection to classroom practice, community-based music education, and the lived experiences of young musicians.