Your Nominations
Dr. Christopher Cock
Dr. Christopher Cock has been the conductor of the Valparaiso University Chorale for over twenty years, as well as the head of the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University. Dr. Cock has continued to cultivate and inspire music and non-music students in the Chorale for years, by providing unparalleled words of wisdom and guidance throughout everyday rehearsal. He never fails to inspire me when he begins to tell a story of his life experience, or his childhood, or his experience studying under Robert Shaw and Maurice Skones. He continuously reminds us that what he do, our gift of music, is truly special and needs to be shared with the world, may we reach out and touch hearts with our craft. What we do is all part of a greater good, and the rehearsal time is spent harvesting the labors of that craft. Pushing us to be the best musicians and performers we can be, he urges the Chorale to hold steadfast and true to our motto, “PTTL”- Passion (and Professionalism), Time, Trust, and Love.
David Mead
Mr. Mead has been the music teacher I’ve always dreamed of having. He will go above and beyond to make breathtaking music and give his students a place to escape.
Mrs. Nash
She is the best with kids especially as a mom, she is a strong independent woman. I love her as my mom. I think she should be nominated as teacher of the week at Lauderdale County High School in Rogersville, she is the best teacher. She would give you the shirt off her back, she is the best mom in the world, I love her so much. She is awesome at teaching, she has raised three beautiful children. My brother is a volunteer firefighter and my sister is a nurse, and I’m a student in her 6th grade class. My mom is a awesome teacher and a excellent mother.
Katie LoRusso
Mrs. LoRusso is the most selfless and hardworking teacher we know. Inside and outside of the classroom, she acts as a role model for her students. Mrs. LoRusso directs the concert band, jazz band, and marching band at H. Frank Carey High School. She founded her own wind ensemble as well. Mrs. LoRusso has had many students perform in Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts, Long Island Youth Orchestra, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, All County, and All State. Each year, she takes her bands to NYSSMA and receives a gold or higher. Mrs. LoRusso creates a warm environment in the band room each and every day. Students know they can come to Mrs. LoRusso for anything; music related or not. She is open-minded and enthusiastic during class. She always goes above and beyond for her students, ensuring success in all of them. All of Mrs. LoRusso’s students have come to value her as a teacher, role model, and friend. We are lucky to know Mrs. LoRusso; no one is more deserving of this award than her.
Tracy Baker
Mr. Baker is such a nice and patient teacher. He encourages me to be better and to believe in myself. When I first joined Pattonville High School’s Chamber Choir, I was very shy and wouldn’t sing out loud after hearing the others sing. I told him that I was so intimidated by them and that I’m not good enough to be in Chamber Choir. He told me not to compare myself to others because it’s not about who’s better. It’s about being myself and being confident with how I sound like, not how other sound like. It might’ve took a while for me to gain confidence, but his words lifted me up and I started being more positive. I would say I’m really grateful to have a choir director like him who cares so much for students and their success. I really do have the BEST CHOIR TEACHER in the world.
Justin McAdams
Okay so you know band kids. Most of us are insecure and Mr McAdams is pretty much a father figure to a lot of us. He pushes us super hard, and we excel because of it. There’s also the jokes, there’s three rules in the band room, No gum, No Whining, And if you don’t laugh at some point, there’s something wrong with you. He has a book of quotes and hes all around a cool guy. We love him lots.
Michelle Green
Mrs. Green is one of the most charismatic and loving human beings I have ever met. I have seen countless people come into her class crying their eyes out because of a personal issue the are facing, and without even questioning them, Mrs. Green just goes up to them and hugs them and tells them everything is going to be alright. Mrs. Green has also reminded me countless times of the importance of music, and how it can change someone in seconds. She reminds me every single day that music is a powerful force that can do so much in a person’s life. Even on her bad days she powers through because she has a genuine love for people and teaching which is something some teachers have lots through years of the same thing. My favorite part of my day every single day is walking into her Disney themed room to see her smiling face and despite how my day had been prior to that moment I truly feel joyful. I love Mrs. Green and I am so thankful for everything she does for me and my classmates.
Bret Winternheimer
Bret Winternheimer is the band Director at Munster High School in Munster, IN. He is a masterful conductor who has exceedingly high standards and a work ethic that inspires others around him. He is the youngest teacher in Indiana’s history to qualify for the State Concert Band finals with two different schools. He also has transformed his marching band program into a consistent state marching band qualifier and contender for a state championship. Bret students have been accepted into All-State ensembles, as well as some of the top music schools across the Midwest. With degrees from Indiana State and Auburn, he is a great ambassador for those programs. The transparency and musicianship of his ensembles is only duplicated by some of the finest bands across the country.
Bret Winternheimer’s dedication to his students, their education of music is unwavering. Bret Winternheimer is a very talented musician who decided to teach and make a difference in the student’s world.
Eric Criss
As a young music educator, he consistantly inspires his students to strive for the best not by forcing them but by encouraging them. I watch how he gives them his expectations and how they accept the challenge. He gives each student a great deal of respect and encourages them to respect each other. His leadership skills give each student opportunities to excel as leaders. He has helped his students become recognized for their talent and discipline. Their band has been a ISSMA state marching band finalist for the last eight years. His concert band receives gold ratings and also earns “with distinction ” classification. Eric is a good Christian man giving his students an excellent role model to emulate. He and his wife are raising their three children to love God, family, and willingly share their talents with others. In my 47 years as a teacher, there are few teachers that have impressed me as much as Eric Criss. Eric is a member of PHI BETA MU, selected by Indiana band direct.
Samuel Huskey
Originally, I was afraid to move up to the high school because of the stories I heard about Mr. Huskey. But, in the three years I have been in his choral program, I have seen how his teaching has changed the lives of many students. He can be stubborn at times, but that is what pushes us to do better. Our choir grown to have wonderful opportunity to perform in so many places— our school, at orchestra concerts, and soon at All-State and SWACDA. He has taught us how to lead with confidence, sing with heart and passion, and most of all how to create a family in choir. We love and laugh together, and it truly shows in our performances and in the classroom. Mr. Huskey’s work has inspired me to become a choral director, and I cannot wait to teach the lessons he has taught me throughout the years.
Michelle Byrn
Mrs. Byrn was my music school teacher for 13 years, from Kindergarten until I graduated as a Senior in high school four years ago. During that time, she taught me everything that I currently know about music, providing me with the knowledge and skills to progress myself as a musician as I moved on into college and sang in the Purdue Varsity Glee Club for the last four years. Most students have Mrs. Byrn all 13 years of their educational career until they graduate high school, creating a bond with the students and really knowing their strengths as a musician. She continues to show compassion, dedication, and truly has joy doing her job every single day. With that, Mrs. Byrn was recently diagnosed with breast cancer—it has left her discouraged as she continues her job as a music educator. By nominating her as the Teacher of the Week, I’m hoping this will remind her of the immense impact that she has left on each one of her students. We wouldn’t be who we are without her.
Amy Godwin
Ms. Godwin is an incredible teacher and person. She hasn’t been teaching for long, but she’s already done incredible things for our program. Of course, she’s a fantastic musician – her taste is daring, but impeccable. Her first year at our school she took our concert choir to state for the first time in ages. She always offers us a good challenge, but nothing we can’t accomplish under her guidance. But that isn’t what makes her the wonderful teacher she is. What stands her apart, in my mind at least, is her connection with each and every student she meets. And that’s not just students in her choirs, either; she always sees the bright side of every person. She puts her heart and soul into her students and it really makes all the difference. I, and I would dare to presume all of her students, would do anything so she could know what a difference she makes. Because she might not be remarkable, not on first glance. But she makes an impact on each and every one of us.
Jamie Hillman
Dr Hillman inspires all musicians to do their absolute best in everything they do: in music and in life. He is an incredible educator that connects with each of his students. Many of his students can refer to Dr Hillman as a close friend. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award. His dedication to his craft is unparalleled, and he impacts the lives of everyone around him.
Dr. Hillman is the director of the Men’s and College Choirs at Gordon College. He’s an amazing educator with a real heart for his students. His commitment to programming diverse works opened my eyes and the eyes of many other students to what the world has to offer for choral literature. He’s personable around campus, and frequently is seen talking to and checking up on his students when it looks like they’re having a bad day. In addition to his efforts at Gordon, he is on faculty at Boston University, where he has dedicated the past 8 years to teaching music education and appreciation to incarcerated men in the greater Boston area prison system. His commitment to the lost, the last, and the least among us truly makes him an incredible educator!
Michael Turner
Mr. Turner is the head of the music department at my school and he was has also been my chorus teacher for 2 years. He has been teaching at my school for over 30 years and it’s easy to see how committed and excited he is to be such a vital aspect of, not only our school, but the lives of so many kids. You can tell that he actually really enjoys teaching and he loves to make sure that we are living up to our best potential. He was the one that introduced us to Eric Whitacre and expressed his admiration for his work. In fact, one of the pieces were are doing this year is “I carry your heart”. Even though he knew it was a challenging piece for us, he still had confidence in our ability, which is one of the best qualities of a chorus teacher: confidence. He is easily one of my favorite teachers at our school and me, along with so many others, have learned so much from him, I believe he deserves recognition for his immense dedication and kindness.
Mr. Turner directs my chamber singers group at my school, and you can always tell that has each student’s own musical growth in mind with everything that we do. He also clearly cares more about the process and the learning when we tackle a new piece than the final result. He always tells us that every performance is a different musical moment and we should appreciate these moments as they come to us. This chamber group is what’s inspired me to start writing classical music of my own and now I consider singing a huge part of my life, and that’s definitely thanks to Mr. Turner, he’s been a hugely important part of my growth as a musician, and everyone I’ve talked to has had the same experience, we’re all incredibly lucky to have a director like him, we couldn’t have come this far without him.
Mr. Turner directs my chamber singers group at my school, and you can always tell that has each student’s own musical growth in mind with everything that we do. He also clearly cares more about the process and the learning when we tackle a new piece than the final result. He always tells us that every performance is a different musical moment and we should appreciate these moments as they come to us. This chamber group is what’s inspired me to start writing classical music of my own and now I consider singing a huge part of my life, and that’s definitely thanks to Mr. Turner, he’s been a hugely important part of my growth as a musician, and everyone I’ve talked to has had the same experience, we’re all incredibly lucky to have a director like him, we couldn’t have come this far without him.
Laura Beck
It’s difficult to describe the impact Ms. Beck has without sounding cheesy or cliché. Her classroom embodies the meaning of community, with a range of students from beginner to advanced caring and supporting one another through the celebration of music. In addition to being a fantastic teacher and accomplished musician, it would not be uncommon to hear students say that her classes are the reason they wake up in the morning and choose to come to school. Despite contrary opinions, Ms. Beck has always made us, her students, feel that we are important to her and that music should be priority in our lives. She is unafraid to fight for the needs of students and for our music program, exemplifying the best qualities of leadership to her students and the community. Her hard work and dedication to us means that any student who passes through her classroom walks away with a deeper appreciation and love for singing.
Andrew Keiser
After starting at Angola High School four years ago, Mr. Keiser has changed students’ lives and the community’s view of the music program. He has opened the door for countless musical opportunities, providing a space where students can explore their musicianship and life skills. Although he is young, he is wise far beyond his years when it comes to musicianship and leadership skills. Mr. Keiser strives to raise strong future leaders that will leave high school and impact the world positively and effectively. He deserves more recognition than he may receive sometimes and we are forever grateful for his work. Thank you, Mr. Keiser, for changing our outlook on music and on life.
Mr. Keiser is the type of person you only come across once in a life time. It’s not very often you find someone that not only has so much passion for their work, but has even more passion for each individual he crosses paths with. He prioritizes the personal connection with each student and creates a circle of trust within the program, the school, and the community. Mr. Keiser always has an open door whether someone is having personal struggle, needs help with music, or just wants someone to talk to. The students see Mr. Keiser not only as band director, but as a friend. He inspires us to express ourselves through music and to hold nothing back. Mr. Keiser makes it known that stepping outside of your comfort zone and putting one’s self out there will lead to great advancement and success in life. He is teaching life lessons to students that will one day progress the world to be a more positive and amicable place to live. Thank you, Mr. Keiser, for impacting our lives for the better.
William Bennett
Mr. Bennett has been the conductor at my school since it opened in 2008. The program began as a small ensemble, no more than 30 kids. He turned it into a state/region renowned choir now with over 200 students who share the same passion: making music. Mr. Bennett instils a devotedness for music in every student that he works with. The choir I participate in is one of the top groups in my school and the state. We wouldn’t be where we are without him; we wouldn’t be WHO we are without him. With every piece we sing, he makes us look beyond notes and rhythms; he pushes us to connect to the music and to each other bringing every one of us, including the audience, closer. In every competition and conference we attend, he views it as an opportunity to impact peoples lives, which means more than any award. Music allows us to heal, it allows us to connect and access emotions we’ve been blind to. We can all say we’re better people because of Mr. Bennett.
Joel Whisler
Mr. Whisler is the best choral director and teacher I have ever met. Every year, the choir takes a trip out of state like Hawaii, Chicago, NYC, and Washington D.C. He never ceases to amaze me with how good he is at planning everything and how he manages to book our performances and get us there on time, with a nice warmup beforehand. He does so much for his choirs outside of school hours and no one realizes how much time and commitment it takes to be a choir teacher and how amazing it is to turn a non singer into a singer in less than a year. This past year, our choir got to perform with a choir in Whittier, CA named “Chorale Bel Canto” and we learned a 16 page Bach piece in a little less than 2 months, which we have never done before, and learned all of our LAMC High School Festival songs in the mist of learning the Bach piece. It was a challenge, but Mr. Whisler helped us get through it. I was in his choir for 4 years and every year we learn about 50 songs and they sound amazing.
Ryan Harris
Mr. Harris is a great teacher, and honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. He’s passionate about choir, and this passion and energy makes choir so much more fun and alive. He teaches well, making it so we can sing comfortably while using proper technique. He expects a lot from his students, as he trusts them to try their very best, whether it’s in front of an audience, or just practising in the music room.
Ryan Harris is my current choir teacher and has been teaching me since 6th grade. He began Chamber Choir at my school, and without him, I wouldn’t have gone on into choir. I was doubtful of my capabilities in 6th grade, but he made me audition for the advanced middle school group, and I got in. Throughout his 6 years of teaching at our school, he has built the choir program up from scratch, which is truly remarkable. We now get invited to festivals and different schools and such.
He is super informative while also making it fun and easy to remember. No one walks into his class without a smile and if they did they’d smile the moment he said something.
Mr. Harris is very encouraging. He has inspired so many people in his classes to pursue choir/music as a career. He pushes us all to be the best people we can be, and has built such a strong choir community.
Mrs. Susan Zemlin
Mrs. Zemlin is the most amazing teacher I have ever had. During my 4 years in her choir program she made me feel welcomed and like I was a part of something bigger than just a group of people who make music. She is committed to the music and making something amazing together but more importantly she is committed to her students and their well beings. She is an advocate for crushing the mental health stigma in high schoolers and has been a great resource for me and others, I can honestly say I wouldn’t have made it through high school without her. I’m a freshman in college now and she checks up on me from time to time, I look forward to those text messages and emails more than almost anything else. She also taught me what it means to be a leader and the part of a group. I was an officer for our concert choir and as honored as I was she gave me so much responsibility, she made sure I knew it wasn’t about me, it was about the choir as a whole. She’s absolutely deserving of this.
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