Education

Annual CSO Music Educator Awards

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Music Educator Awards

Presented by The McGraw-Hill Companies with additional support by Battelle and American Electric Power. 

Established in 1996, the Columbus Symphony’s Music Educator Awards recognize those individuals who instill and inspire a love of music in the children and adults of Central Ohio. The purpose of these annual awards is to promote a greater understanding of and appreciation for music education, as well as to honor those individuals who are making a real difference in our community through their dedication to music education. One award is honored in each of the following categories:

                    Elementary Music Educator          Secondary Music Educator           Community Music Educator

Each Music Educator Award winner receives a monetary grant to be spent at their direction for a broad range of music education endeavors, from purchasing music, to instrument repair, to professional development classes for the educator. For additional information, please call (614) 221-4916.

Who should be nominated for CSO Music Educator awards?

Nominees should be Music Educators in the Central Ohio region who:

  • Make a lasting difference in the lives of students of all abilities and backgrounds.
  • Routinely go "above and beyond the call of duty by extending efforts beyond the classroom.
  • Make a significant impact on their community through music education.
  • Instill a life-long appreciation of music in their students.
  • Inspire students to reach appropriately high levels of musical understanding and ability.
  • Demonstrate longevity in the field of music education by their many years of work

Nomination information will be available Fall 2013. 

Past Winners

2013 Award Winners

The Columbus Symphony announced the winners of the 2013 Music Educator Awards, honoring individuals who make a difference in the community through a dedication to music education and their efforts to promote a greater understanding of and appreciation for music education.

Three nominees have been selected to receive awards in the categories of elementary, secondary, and community education. Each winner will receive a monetary grant to be spent at their discretion on a broad range of music education endeavors.

The winners of the 2013 Music Educator Awards are:
 

 
Elementary Education
Deborah Forsblom
General Music Teacher
Bexley City Schools

Deborah Forsblom is a general music teacher in the Bexley City Schools, where she has taught for 21 years, co-producing original musicals and directing children's choirs. She has additional certification in Suzuki Piano Pedagogy, Kodaly, Orff-Schulwerk, and Dalcroze-Eurhythmics. Forsblom received a BA and BM in music education from Oberlin College and Conservatory, followed by an MA from The Ohio State University.

 
Secondary Education
Todd Phillips
Vocal Music Director
Canal Winchester Local Schools

Todd Phillips is the Vocal Music Director at Canal Winchester High School. Now in his 28th year of teaching, he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Miami University and  Master of Music in choral conducting from The Ohio State University. Phillips also directs the Canal Winchester Steel Band program, which includes a middle school band, two high school bands and a community band. 

 

Community Educators
Susan & Doug Locke
Artistic/Executive Directors, founders & teachers
Suzuki Music Columbus

Douglas and Susan Locke are the Artistic/Executive Directors, founders and violin teachers for Suzuki Music Columbus. Each maintains a full teaching studio of Suzuki violin students and co-directs the Suzuki Music Columbus tour group. Doug and Susan have directed the Summer Suzuki Institute since 1994, which includes Suzuki Teacher Training courses as well as a summer music camp experience for children. The Lockes received their Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music, followed by additional training to earn a Master of Music Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.  

The recipients of the 2013 Music Educator Awards were honored at a brunch at The Westin Hotel in March followed by a presentation on stage preceding the Columbus Symphony concert. CSO Associate conductor Peter Stafford Wilson served as emcee for the event. The Music Educator Awards are made possible through the generous support of The McGraw-Hill Companies with additional support provided by American Electric Power and Battelle.

Other nominees included Susann Barrett, Davis Middle School; Janet Benedict, Reynoldsburg City Schools; David Brown, the Harmony Project; Benjamin Factor, Liberty Union High School; Jason Gibson, Reynoldsburg City Schools; Dr. Angela Heck Mueller, Michelle Tuesday Music School; Mendell Hibbard, Walnut Ridge HS; Renee Johnson, Worthington Christian Schools; Eric Kauffman, Upper Arlington HS; Nathan McGee, New Albany MS; Nina Polonsky, Private Music Teacher; Terri Root, Alton Darby Elementary; Mike Sewell, Pickerington HS Central; Lynn Singleton, Private Music Teacher; Leslie Twigg, Jefferson Elementary School; Tyler Young Lancaster City Schools; and Rose Zuber, Columbus State.