STORIES OF SISTERS

Sister Mary Anne Nelson, CSJ, honored for musical prowess

Sister Mary Anne Nelson, CSJ, was one of eight individuals inducted into the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame this year. (Photo provided)

Sister Mary Anne Nelson, CSJ, built The College of Saint Rose’s music industry program from the ground up during her 49-year tenure. Her creativity and musical prowess earned her a spot in the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame. According to their website, the Hall of Fame “honors local individuals who have made outstanding contributions to, or significant impact on the evolution, development and perpetuation of the music industry. These contributions can be national, regional or local.” Sister Mary Anne was one of eight individuals inducted on March 27 at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs (The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall and Universal Preservation Hall are part of Proctors Collaborative).

Sister Mary Anne reflects that she found teaching the same way she found sisterhood: “I feel I was called to do it. And as I look back over the years, I’ve been called to do many things, some of them with relish that I love to do. Some of the things were hard. But I was called to service, into doing whatever I can to make life meaningful for other people.”

Sister Mary Anne helped put the college on the map through her vision of post-secondary music education. Today, Saint Rose possesses one of the top U.S. music industry degree programs. An alumna of Saint Rose, Sister Mary Anne steered the school’s music industry program toward a greater focus on popular music, which has been recognized multiple times by Billboard Magazine.