In 2016 the Rockford Symphony Orchestra created the Outstanding Music Educator Award to recognize an outstanding music educator in our community.
2024/25 Award Sponsored by:
Current, full-time educators in Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Rock counties who teach music in public or private schools are eligible to be nominated. The award will alternate each year between elementary and secondary teachers. In the 2024/25 Season, the award will be given to a secondary teacher.
Nominees should embody the following qualities:
Demonstrates a passion for music education and is a leader in the music education community
Has a documented successful music education program at his/her school
Makes a measurable difference in the lives of his/her students
The nomination must include information from the nominator as to how the candidate embodies the qualities of the award, as well as a letter of support from the administrator of the candidate. This award will be reviewed by a committee that may include RSO board members, members of the musical community, and community members at large.
Teachers who have been nominated previously but did not win can be nominated again.
The award winner, and two honorable mentions, will be announced at the RSO’s May 10, 2025 concert, with a reception to follow.
The winner will each receive:
Tickets to the RSO’s May 10, 2025 concert, and an invitation to a post-concert reception
A recognition plaque
$250 to spend on classroom supplies*
$250 to use for personal professional development*
Two Masterworks subscriptions to the RSO’s 2025/26 Season
*If retiring, $500 will go to the nominated educator’s school and be designated to the school music program to be used by their successor.
The honorable mentions will receive:
Tickets to the RSO’s May 10, 2025 concert, and an invitation to a post-concert reception
A recognition certificate
Two Flex subscription packages
Nomination Process:
Any person is eligible to nominate a qualified music teacher for the RSO’s Outstanding Music Educator Award. The nomination form needs to be filled out online and requires the following information:
Teacher’s Name
Teacher’s Email
Teacher’s School
School Principal
Relationship to Teacher: Student/Co-worker/Administrator/Parent/Resident
Nominator’s Name
Nominator’s Email
Please briefly share why you are nominated this music educator for this recognition, and how they embody the qualities of the award.
Upload administrator recommendation letter
If the person nominating the educator is not their director supervisor, a recommendation letter from their administrator is required to be uploaded as well. Nominations cannot be submitted to the Award Committee without this recommendation.
All Music Educator Award nominees will be invited to and recognized at both the March and May 2025 concerts. A final award winner will be selected by an Award Committee. The winners will be publicly announced at the RSO’s May 10, 2025 concert with a reception to follow the concert.
2024/25 Timeline:
September 26 Nomination form opens on the RSO’s website
February 2 Nominations due
February 10 RSO staff notify award nominees
February 10 Nomination packets sent to the Award Committee for review
March 8 Nominees recognized at the RSO’s “Ellis Island: Dream Of America” Concert
May 10 Winners announced publicly at the RSO’s “Beethoven’s 9th” performance, with a reception to follow
Past Winners:
2024: Laury Lunde, Seth Whitman Elementary
2023: Linda Smith, Keith Country Day School and Margaret Brandon, Brookview Elementary School
2020: Amy Jensen, Hononegah High School
2019: Brad Koloch, Kishwaukee Elementary School
2018: Jeremiah Kramper, Hononegah High School
Special Recognition for a Lifetime of Service:
Janice Mitchell, Winnebago Middle School
Special Recognition for being a Rising Star in music education:
Colleen Bartimoccia, Boylan High School
2017: Mary Shore, Johnson Elementary School
Special Recognition: Inger Langsholt, Rock Valley College
2016: Lisa Eaton, King Elementary School