Dickinson College Faculty Select Recipient of Highest Teaching Honor
The Distinguished Teaching Award
by Craig Layne
Dickinson’s faculty recently honored Jennifer Blyth, professor of music, 
with the college’s highest teaching honor, the Distinguished Teaching Award. Recipients are determined by faculty voting and approved by the president at the conclusion of each academic year.
“A lot of my work is very public, teaching from the stage. To know that my colleagues found something distinguishable in my work is an honor,” said Blyth.
Blyth teaches piano and music theory and coaches chamber ensembles. Faced with the daunting task of teaching music during remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blyth “became, as one colleague put it, a ‘beacon of hope’ for the entire department,” said Provost Neil Weissman. “She epitomizes how longstanding devotion to students and program supercharged in response to crisis,” Weissman added.
Blyth is an accomplished pianist who has performed across the U.S. and internationally as both a soloist and recitalist. She has given lectures, masterclasses and open lessons and participated in acclaimed residencies across four continents, working alongside accomplished artists and musical groups.
“My field doesn’t allow for the repetition of material. Performance just doesn’t work that way,” said Blyth. “So, in planning my performances (which is really teaching from the stage) every year, I always have to learn new material. This is unique to all those who teach through performance—you can never teach the same class each semester.”
Blyth holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Australia Conservatorium of Music and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music.
The Distinguished Teaching Award is supported by a permanent endowment funded by gifts from senior administrators.
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Published June 28, 2022