Music Educators to be honored by RPO on Thursday

On Thursday night, the RPO Musicians will honor five local teachers for their achievements as music educators. Now in its 27th year, the RPO Musicians' Awards for Music Educators works to strengthen the relationship between area music educators and the musicians of the RPO.

“Every musician in the Rochester Philharmonic has had someone in their life who was that spark, that educator, so this is our way to give back by honoring the educators in our area,” said Herb Smith, RPO trumpet player and co-chair of the 2015 Music Educators Awards Committee. Smith’s co-chair is Anna Steltenpohl, RPO English horn and oboe player.

The 2015 awards winners are: Kim Fink (Greece Central School District); Shawn Halquist (Brockport Central School District), Jennifer Lewis (Victor Central School District), Debbie Parker (Brighton Central School District), and Linda Rosebrough (Rush-Henrietta Central School District).

The music educators will be honored during the RPO’s concert in Kodak Hall in a presentation immediately following intermission. This week’s concert features a program that includes Dvořák's “New World” Symphony and RPO Concertmaster Juliana Athayde on Sibelius’ Violin Concerto.

Every fall, the RPO Musicians invite school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to nominate an outstanding music educator. The winners are selected by a committee of RPO Musicians and community educators. The 2015 RPO Musicians' Awards for Music Educators are sponsored by Jeff Reimer Piano Service and Bernunzio Uptown Music.

For more information on the RPO Musicians' Awards for Music Educators , visit rpo.org/education and select “RPO Musicians’ Award for Outstanding Music Educators."