John E. Albertson grew up near Buhler, Kansas and
attended Hutchinson Junior College, and University of
Wichita. He earned Doctorate of Musical Arts at
University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory. He
spent his entire professional career in the Kansas City,
Kansas Public School District. He established
exemplary choral programs at both the junior and senior
high school levels, he became Director of Music for
Kansas City in 1976 and used his gifts to recruit young
teachers with lots of potential and grow them into
master teachers who shared his vision and passion for
music education. During Dr. Albertson's public school
career he established a massive inventory of
instruments for students who could not afford to
purchase their own, he started an instrument repair
shop to maintain those instruments and he hired
woodwind and brass Specialists to give private lessons
to those students. He founded and supported an All-City
Honor Orchestra and the nation's only urban school
director Harp Ensemble. Dr. Albertson was a driving
force in the founding of Kaw Valley Arts and Humanities
and Kansas City Arts Partners. Under his leadership
the KCK Arts Partners plan became a national model
for excellence in arts education and the district was
invited to showcase the program at the 1992 MENC
National Convention.