WESTCHESTER, IL, February 12, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present John Thomas Langfeld, MM, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Langfeld celebrates many years' experience in his professional network and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Langfeld has distinguished himself over a decades-long career as an educator and musician, having dedicated himself to advancing music education and the arts. Since retiring in 2007, he has focused extensively on writing, particularly poetry and prose, amassing an impressive body of work that includes more than 24,000 poems. His literary pursuits began in earnest in 1984, and his output has been widely published since 1988, with recent works featured in anthologies such as "Echoes of Tradition" by Tulsa NightWriters and "Far Villages: Welcome Essays for New and Beginner Poets." Mr. Langfeld's poetry is recognized for its epigrammatic style, often addressing broader societal themes rather than personal narratives.

In the years following his retirement, Mr. Langfeld continued to contribute to the arts as an education consultant and program design administrator at Saint Luke Academy in Chicago from 2007 to 2013. He also maintained an active presence as a performer and conductor, leading recorder concerts for a decade and arranging music for ensembles ranging from string quartets to full recorder choirs. Mr. Langfeld's arrangements, notably a rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody," reflected his innovative approach to music performance and education.

Before his retirement, Mr. Langfeld served as an assistant principal at Morton West Freshman Academy at J. Sterling Morton West High School in Cicero and Berwyn, Illinois, from 2006 to 2007. This role followed his five-year tenure as the building administrator and dean of instruction at the school, during which he oversaw academic programs and faculty development between 2001 and 2006. From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Langfeld served as the dean of instruction for fine arts at both J. Sterling Morton East and West High Schools, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the arts curricula.

Earlier, Mr. Langfeld excelled as the executive director and curriculum founder of the Illinois Summer School for the Arts (ISSA) in Normal between 1990 and 1994, where he established an interdisciplinary arts program for high school students that fostered artistic growth and explored how sight, sound, music and language serve as expressive tools for artists. Notably, ISSA was state-funded at the time and students had the privilege of discovering those concepts with specialists in the areas of music, theater, creative writing and dance. Mr. Langfeld also gained experience as a band and choir director and a humanities instructor at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island from 1973 to 1981. During this period, he authored a comprehensive curriculum book on modern music education, a manuscript of approximately 350 pages that demonstrated his commitment to pedagogical innovation despite peer criticism.

Mr. Langfeld began his teaching career as a band director for Beloit Public Schools in Wisconsin from 1966 to 1970. His early experiences coincided with significant historical events, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., which influenced his programming of band concerts to reflect contemporary social issues.

Mr. Langfeld's academic background is extensive. He received a bachelor's degree in music education from St. Cloud State University in 1966 and a master's degree in musicology with a minor in European cultural history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1973. He also completed coursework toward a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, additional advanced coursework in music education and aesthetic education at Northwestern University, and participated in writing workshops through the Magid Center for Writing at the University of Iowa. Mr. Langfeld holds a certificate of advanced study from Illinois State University.

Aside from his extensive education, Mr. Langfeld holds professional membership in the National Association for Music Education (formerly Music Educators' National Conference), the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Northwestern University Center for the Study of Education and the Musical Experience, the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education and, among others, the Illinois Art Education Association.

Throughout his professional journey, Mr. Langfeld has been recognized for his expertise in music and education. He presented at national workshops and delivered keynotes between 1977 and 1998, and participated in workshops at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival from 2009 to 2023. He is also noted for founding comparative arts programs at Chicago high schools for the performing and visual arts during the 1980s.

As an author, Mr. Langfeld's works include 'Dear Patriot,' published in "Echoes of Tradition," 'Beethoven in Sonata Form' featured by The Decadent Review, contributions to 'Far Villages: Welcome Essays for New and Beginner Poets, ' as well as numerous other published and unpublished poems and essays addressing topics ranging from substance abuse to cultural history.

Mr. Langfeld's contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the Arts Education Service Award from the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education in 1995. In retirement, he continues to enjoy writing and plans to pursue both literary creation and musical performance in the coming years.

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