John and Nancy Edison taught at Blue Mountain Academy for the forty-three years. Both 1959 music education graduates from Atlantic Union College, they spent their entire career at BMA, retiring in 2002. Arriving at the school four years after it was founded, they developed and presided over a highly regarded music program that eventually grew to include three teachers.

Nancy, a popular and inspiring keyboard teacher who always carried an overload, performed regularly as a recitalist in American Guild of Organists events and as a church organist and accompanist. Many of her students continued their studies in organ or piano as music majors in our colleges and universities, with some returning to her for additional instruction following that study. She received the Alma McKibben Award in 1991, a financial award underwriting continued professional study for the recipient, and the Zapara Excellence in Teaching Award in 1993.

John, a string bass performer, directed the band and orchestra for thirty-one years. He was also credentialed in math and science and taught in these areas during the last seven of these years. In his last twelve years he was officially a full-time science and math teacher, but continued teaching the academy string instrument lessons and string ensembles. He was honored with the Alma McKibben Award in 1992.

As the 2002 school year ended, both were honored for their many contributions to the academy and for their unprecedented record of service during the school's formative years by having the administration building named for them. They now reside in Marietta, Georgia. Nancy continues to perform and teach, presently commuting to Washington, D.C., where she teaches for three days a week at Columbia Union College.

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