Heartland Professor Receives Honor of Excellence

Photo provided by Heartland Community College

NORMAL, Ill. – Music matters. At least, that has been the backbone to one man’s life. With a career that can be traced back to 2001, a Heartland Community College professor has been honored by the Royal Conservatory of Music with an award of excellence.

Professor of music at Heartland Community College Afrim Shabani says, “The foundation of my success has always been an unwavering passion for music combined with a commitment to continuous learning. Consistency has been key.”

He elaborated on this point, focusing on making personal connections with students.

“Music, at its core, speaks to our emotions, and guiding a student to connect with those feelings is a profound experience,” Shabani said.

What has been just as influential in life as music for Shabani is Education, teaching music for almost twenty years. From his teaching, he talks about what it means to him.

“One of the things I cherish most about teaching music is observing a student’s progression from the basics to genuinely expressing themselves through their instrument,” said Shabani. 

Shabani was one of six educators selected by the Royal Conservatory of Music, out of a pool of thousands. He will accept the honor in the fall.