American String Teachers Association Names
Lynn Tuttle Executive Director and CEO

Washington, D.C. (June 22, 2021) — The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) has selected Lynn Tuttle, CAE, as Executive Director and CEO, following an executive search process led by Sterling Martin Associates. She began her tenure on June 21, 2021.

Bringing 26 years of professional experience in the arts and education nonprofit and governmental sectors, Ms. Tuttle is a musician, music educator, and lifelong advocate for equitable access to music and arts education. Most recently, she served as the Director of Public Policy, Research, and Professional Development for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), overseeing all in-person and virtual professional development, the creation and dissemination of six publications, and the association’s federal grants portfolio. She also led the association’s policy work at the federal and state levels and in partnership with the organization’s 50 affiliated state music education associations.

Photo by Mark Finkenstaedt
Prior to joining NAfME in September 2015, Ms. Tuttle served as the Director of Arts Education for the Arizona Department of Education. She created the first-ever arts integration program at the state level using Title I dollars and, at the national level, she served as co-facilitator for the revision of our nation’s arts education standards, leading to the creation of the 2014 National Core Arts Standards. She is also a founding member and past president of the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) and is the guest-editor for a special issue of Arts Education Policy Review focused on COVID-19 and K-12 arts education.

Ms. Tuttle holds a Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music (valedictorian), Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in the humanities and world history from the Johns Hopkins University (Phi Beta Kappa), and an MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. She continues to teach, study, and perform as a flutist and singer, and is the mother of two young musicians, Peterson (violinist and euphonium player) and Landon (musical theatre). She currently serves on the board of the National Dance Education Organization.

In making the announcement, ASTA President Kristen Pellegrino said, “ASTA is so lucky to have found Lynn, whose background in education, music education, policy work, grant writing, and nonprofit associations will bring us into a new era. In addition, her enthusiasm, positivity, and energy are contagious!”

“As the organization celebrates its 75th anniversary, I am thrilled to be joining ASTA and serving its rich and vibrant community of string educators,” said Ms. Tuttle. “As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time to be bold and creative and lean into ASTA’s vision of universal access to fine string playing and teaching. How can we take advantage of the current unprecedented federal investment in public education to grow more opportunities for students, regardless of where they live, to access string education? I look forward to working with ASTA’s dedicated members and leaders to help more students engage with string playing, and to build a more diverse and inclusive string education profession.”

About ASTA
The American String Teachers Association (ASTA), celebrating its 75th anniversary, is a nonprofit 501(c)3 membership organization for string and orchestra teachers and players that aims to help them develop and refine their careers. With a vision of enriching lives through universal access to fine string playing and teaching, ASTA serves 7,000 members who range from budding student teachers to artist-status performers. ASTA’s mission is to provide professional development, career building and support, and a community of peers for all teachers of stringed instruments. For more information, visit astastrings.org.

Press Contact
Susan Simolunas, Communications Manager, ssimolunas@astastrings.org, 703-279-2113