Two Austin Public School alumni will be recognized for their contribution to the arts.

The Austin High School Music Hall of Fame Committee announced this year’s inductees into the AHS Music Hall of Fame as Gail Wangen Kawamura, class of 1960, and Amy Nordin Duma, class of 1977.

A banquet will be held for these new members at the Hormel Historic Home. They will be introduced to the public at the spring orchestra concert held at 7 p.m. in Knowlton Auditorium May 7, following the banquet. The banquet arrangements have been made by Mary Hagen and flowers will be presented by Connie Nelson, members of the committee.

Inductees will be presented during the concert by Kenneth Jensen, founder of the AHS Music Hall of Fame. A plaque will be given to each inductee by Sue Radloff and a certificate for outstanding achievement in the field of music will be given by Principal Katie Baskin representing AHS.

After high school Gail Kawamura graduated from Mankato State University with degrees in music education and science. She received her Master of Music and Orff certification at Colorado State University. She has taught in Adams 12 Five Star School District, Colorado, a school district that presently serves over 39,000 students.

Over the years she has continued her education and has enjoyed teaching at all levels, pre-K through college. Some of her involvements in the field of music include directing a new musical in Estes Park, Colorado, at the annual Praises in the Rockies Convention held in Rocky Mountain National Park, serving as music curriculum presenter at the National Charter School Convention, opening the music departments in the three charter schools in the Adams 12 Five Star School District. She has also directed a church/community children’s choir for 25 years, performing two or three musicals each year, and served as pianist and organist in two churches.

After high school Amy Duma attended Luther College and was awarded Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. She continued education at the University of Illinois where she received a Master of Music in flute performance and literature.

For the last 27 years, she has been the director of the Teacher and School programs for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. She designs, implements and evaluates a season of 70-80 professional development workshops and courses modeling teaching the arts and/or arts integration for school staff. She designs and leads presentations to the national Kennedy Center affiliated organizations pertaining to professional development of teachers.

She supervises staff responsible for arts education programs with the District of Columbia partnership schools, such as artist residencies, school groups and family demonstrations and workshops as well as Dance Theater of Harlem dance classes for students. She is a consultant for the Ordway Performing Arts Center Education Department in St. Paul.