Everett Engstrom – President 1939 – 1940

Engstrom – Etude the music magazine 1939 Vol 57

Everett Albert Engstrom was a highly respected music educator and voice teacher based in New York. During his career, he trained several successful singers, with Stefano Algieri, a renowned opera singer and professor at McGill University, being one of his most prominent students. Engstrom’s guidance helped shape Algieri’s career, particularly in vocal performance, which contributed to his international success. Engstrom’s influence extended beyond his role as a teacher, shaping future generations of musicians.

In addition to his work as an educator, Engstrom was a passionate advocate for the rights of private music teachers. He actively campaigned for the inclusion of private music educators in federal social security programs. During his presidency of the Associated Music Teachers League (AMTL), Engstrom addressed the critical issue of retirement security for private music teachers. He worked closely with organizations such as the Federal Security Agency, urging Congress to extend Social Security benefits to self-employed music instructors. His leadership in this matter was instrumental in advancing discussions about the financial welfare of private music educators, a pressing issue at the time.

Everett Albert Engstrom – Social Security for the private music teachers

Everett Albert Engstrom – Social Security for the private music teachers

Engstrom’s advocacy efforts were recognized at various conventions, including the Cleveland convention of 1941 and subsequent discussions at the Minneapolis convention, where the topic of retirement benefits for music teachers gained national attention. His work highlighted the importance of securing the financial future of educators who were often left out of traditional retirement plans. Although specific details about Engstrom’s life remain limited, his legacy as a teacher and advocate for music educators continues to resonate through the policies and protections that benefit private teachers today.

Sources: https://www.mcgill.ca/music/stefano-algieri, Engstrom, E. A., & McNutt, P. V. (1941). RETIREMENT SECURITY FOR PRIVATE MUSIC TEACHERS. Bulletin of the Music Teachers National Association, 6(2), 10–11. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43528478, Etude : the music magazine 1939: Vol 57