Your Nominations
Shawn Humphries
Mr. Humphries has taught me the true meaning of discipline, leadership, and teamwork, whether that be in band or outside of the classroom. Through his excellent teaching and mentorship skills, he has been able to develope and change the lives of many of the students who have come through the band program. He’s always caring and fair in his ways of teaching, works to reveal the potential in his students, and strives for the betterment of them.
Miss. Kristen Diehl
Miss. Diehl is a teacher who is willing to go to extreme lengths to help her students become the musicians they want to be. Miss. Diehl was one of my biggest inspirations into becoming a music educator myself. My senior year in High School, she created an entirely new music theory class for me because I had completed everything that my High School had to offer, and wanted to push myself to the next level. She personally works to help each child grow. She works individually with each child to make sure that they reach the level of musicianship that they want to reach. Miss. Diehl was a huge impact on me, and is the reason that I became the musician that I am today.
Amy Neuner
Ms.Neuner is doing the impossible-Making high school enjoyable! Through all the drama, stress and hardship that high school brings, there is always her chorus class to look forward to. Ms.Neuner is willing to work with students at all skill levels and prioritizes effort over natural talent. The chorus room is a safe environment for all! Ms.Neuner is kind, talented, knowledgeable, encouraging, and goes above and beyond for her student and for that, deserves this nomination.
Joshua Markham
Mr. Markham is one of those teachers that you are excited to see every day in school and are sad to leave after you graduate. He is unbelievably talented in so many different ways, and he is the best musician I know. He’s not just a teacher to his students, but also a friend to many. Mr. Markham has a passion for music and his students, and that passion leaves a lasting impact on anyone who goes through his chorus program.
Anne Tomlinson
Anne Tomlinson is the artistic director emeritus of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, and in her time as the artistic director, she changed the lives of hundreds of children who had the joy of being in one of her ensembles. As an aspiring music educator and choral composer myself, I can say with full confidence that without her guidance, I wouldn’t have ended up pursuing music at all. So many of us who studied under her owe it to her for showing us the power of singing together to cross borders, language barriers, and ideological differences. I can think of no more important figure in my life as a musician, and even after graduating from LACC, I still find myself looking back on her rehearsals and learning something new every day. Thank you, Mrs. T.
Dr. Charissa Chiaravalloti
Dr. Chiaravalloti is the Director of Choral Activities at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Dr. C, as we call her, is one of those teachers that changes your life. She’s the standard by which you hold all other teachers, even though you know you’re never going to have a director quite like her again. She loves and cherishes music, but she loves and values her students even more. Dr. C supports each and every one of her students, and helps us to grow not only as musicians, but as confident, competent human beings. No teacher has ever changed my life quite the way Dr. C has.
Dr. Michael Martin
Dr. Michael Martin is the Director of Choral Activites at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is the conductor of our women’s chorus, men’s chorus, Chamber Singers, orchestra, and our Chorale. He is also the professor over music education and fine arts management. His office is always open to any student and it is full of snacks, drinks, and coffee to help us get through the day. In his ensembles, he urges us to leave our baggage/ challenges in life at the door so that when we sing together all problems fade away. For at least the time we are together, music making is the only priority. Our touring group, the Chorale, is made up of mostly nonmusic majors who have had no formal training in music. He has molded our Chorale into a fabulous choir that has recently performed at Carnegie Hall and many basilicas in Italy including the Vatican. Dr. Martin provides many workshops around the state of NC for middle and high school students and their teachers.
Mr. Michael Short
For 30 plus years Mr. Short has been the choir director at Orange High School in O.C., Ca. He is also a church choir director, and director of the Orange Community Master Chorale – started when his high school graduates expressed an interest in continuing to sing with him. He instituted our annual Christmas Tree Lighting that features a 300-voice chorus and also a musical program at our annual ‘3rd of July’ celebration. He makes sure that his singers have opportunities to travel, taking them on East Coast tours, and to cathedrals and churches all over Europe. Having had two sons go through his program, I know for a fact that he is completely invested in every one of his students, and wants the very best for them.
Anthony Boldt
Mr. Boldt is an inspiring band director of the Kasson-Mantorville Senior High School, Minnesota. In his time as director, he has built one of the largest and best band programs to come out of the area and inspired students and others to take on other opportunities in music to instill a sort of code in students to take on more in order to create the best music student. This goes as far as reaching out in community bands, performing in ensembles and jazz bands, and even encouraging students to work in the pit for musicals. Students praise him as a man that cares for what he does and makes it seem like it’s very much in the hands of the students to make the best music possible. Our bands have increased performance abilities in competitions across the country and in contests within the state of Minnesota under his helm and with the increased performance ability came the increase of student numbers interested, growing from two bands to three in five years.
Professor Angela Tipps
Professor Tipps is the director of the Middle Tennessee State University Women’s Chorale, and not only has she grown the ensemble from 20 women to over 70 in a few years, she has also taken us to perform at TMEA, ACDA, and at high school’s all around middle Tennessee. She has changed all of our lives for the better and without her my college experience would have been a very different one. She taught me how to love singing again, how to be so in sync with the people around me that it feels effortless. Professor Tipps is one of the crowning jewels at MTSU and she deserves as much recognition as possible for the tireless hours and endless love she pours into her students.
Dr. Susan Kelly
Dr. Susan Kelly is currently directing the Tennessee State University choirs; however, I first encountered Sue as my high school director in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania at Abington Heights High School. Nearly every one of her students could attest to her startling dedication, her striking ability to connect to her students, and her limitless openness and kindness. Since meeting her and studying under her, she has inspired me to always move steadfastly in the direction I’m going. Many of my first leadership opportunities were granted by her and her program. She has pushed so many students in the right direction. Now, she is no longer my teacher, but rather a friend to ask advice of, or to share a quick laugh with.
Dr. Susan Kelly
Dr. Susan Kelly is currently the choir director for Tennessee State University’s choirs— and she built this program from the bottom up. I had the pleasure of singing for her in my small suburban high school— Abington Heights in Clarks Summit, PA. Susan Kelly brings 110% to everything she does, and she is a teacher who truly LOVES her students, caring more about the people they become than the grades on their papers. She has an endless sense of humor, and pushes students past their boundaries of fear and apprehension (which we’ve all encountered as singers!). More than a teacher, she was (and is) a dear friend and mentor. When I was having a rough time in high school, I used to eat lunch with her and a few other students in her classroom. She would offer advice, friendship, and company— her doors were open to anyone. She left PA for the opportunity to build and shape a choir program at TSU, leaving her home to join an entirely new culture, to bring music to those who needed it.
Parker Haley
Mr. Haley works so hard to let his kids know that they are loved and are important to him. There is never a day when he doesn’t great his class with a smile or an encouraging word. He has been a great mentor to me as a fellow teacher and checks in to make sure that I’m doing okay. And when I’m not, he will take as much time as he has to encourage and support me. This attitude is something that he brings into his classroom, making sure no students fall through the cracks, no matter how many of their other teachers may have given up on them.
Brent Whitaker
Brent Whitaker is conductor of a choir based in a highschool that is located in the middle of a cotton field – Southeast Bulloch High School. He takes teenagers who come from all backgrounds and shows them what it feels like to work hard for something and succeed. The most important lesson he teaches is character. He’s taught his students to work hard for the things they want, inside the music world and out, and because of this, our tiny farm town highschool consistently wins national competitions at the highest levels, and we are continuing to exceed expectations. No private lessons, and no full time voice instructors. We owe it all to Mr. Whitaker for everything he’s taught us. He believes in us despite all adversity, despite any setbacks, and he’s taught me that no matter where you come from, you can achieve the impossible.
Ms. Susanna Smit
Ms. Smit, Susy to her students, is a wonderful flute instructor and a positive role model for aspiring teachers. In her work at Carmel High School in Carmel, IN, and Greenfield-Central High School in Greenfield, IN, she’s touched the lives of not just flutists but entire woodwind sections with her eclectic personality, child-like humor, and ability to empathize with the struggles, concerns, and triumphs of the average high school woodwind instrumentalist. No one could replace her bubbly demeanor and engaging teaching, and the flute and woodwind sections of both Carmel and Greenfield-Central High School are forever grateful.
Jeremy Mims
Dr. Mims is a blessing! He helped me and other students in his choir classes become better singers and wonderful educators teaching in the field of music (choral or instrumental).
Mr. Chris Wing
As the band director and head of the music department at Greenfield-Central High School, Mr. Wing built a phenomenal marching band and a spectacular concert band program from the ground up. Starting with a horn line that totaled fewer members than the current woodwind section, he pushed through adversity, giving every member the knowledge they needed to thrive, and continues to strive, not for trophies or medals, but for improvement and exceptional performance individually and as a group. He will be the first to admit that if there are points available, he wants them all. However, his desire for the Greenfield-Central Cougar Pride Marching Band to be the best it possibly can overrides his competitive nature, and he implores us to focus on how we improved over how we placed.
Mr. Jeremy Basso
Our assistant band director, Mr. Basso, is one of the most vibrant, uplifting members of our music department here at Greenfield-Central High School in Greenfield, IN. Since his employment, he’s been a driving force in the marching, jazz, theory, and concert programs. He drives us forward, ensuring that every member of the band meets the potential he knows they have, takes the time to talk to as many people as he can, and helps up anyone who’s fallen down. His belief in everyone, the way he builds up people at their lowest points, and his drive to make everyone better are some of the brightest parts of our band program.
Amy Kurtz
Amy Kurtz is the director of all four choirs at Clarksburg High School in Montgomery County, MD. In the five short years she has been at Clarksburg, she has been able to expand and develop the choir program into a regionally-recognized program. Her passion for music is exceeded only by her passion for her students. She spends countless hours outside the school day helping her students in whatever way she can- with music for auditions, a ride home, life advice, etc. Amy has a tradition of making each of her seniors a small gift before their final concert, to help them remember their time in the program. Amy Kurtz is a ray of light in her classroom, her school, and the choral community.
Holly Bacha
Mrs. Bacha was the choir director at Spooner High School in the small City of Spooner, WI for too few of years. In the short amount of time she was teaching here she made choir humorous, rewarding, and just fun to be a part of, while still having the class be educational and serious at the same time. She even expanded the choral to allow for men’s choir and she pushed for the select choir to be able to go to new amazing events such as Carnage Hall in New York and leading them to best in site at state solo ensemble. Teaching aside she was a person that everyone could always trust for a good laugh or a comforting hug. She would be there for anyone who came to her no matter the situation she would always provide her best advice. Overall Mrs. Bacha is an amazing teacher and amazing person, anyone would be more than lucky to learn under her direction.
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