Nominate a music educator for RPO musicians' awards

RPO horn player Maura McCune Corvington owes her success as a musician to the support of great teachers, people she still remains in close contact with today. As a result, Corvington was delighted to have the opportunity to join a committee that seeks to recognize local music educators for their tireless dedication to their students. On Thursday, April 14, the RPO musicians will honor outstanding music educators onstage prior to the Philharmonics concert featuring acclaimed concert

Leary Elementary School Music Educator Linda Rosebrough
shakes hands with RPO trumpet Herb Smith onstage
during the 2015 Music Educators Awards presentation last April
credit: Erich Camping

pianist Yuja Wang.

“I benefited endlessly from stellar classroom and private music instruction,” said Corvington, who grew up outside of Chicago and joined the RPO at the beginning of the 2015-16 season. “I would not have pursued and succeeded in music without these experiences. Music educators deserve to be commended as often as possible for deeply enriching others’ lives!”

Since 1988, the RPO Musicians' Awards for Music Educators has served to strengthen the relationship between local music educators and the musicians of the RPO. Anyone is welcome to nominate a music educator (vocal, instrumental, or music specialist) through a simple application process on the RPO’s website.

Five educators were honored at an RPO concert last spring, including Linda Rosebrough of Leary Elementary School (Rush-Henrietta School District). In her nomination for Rosebrough, Leary Elementary Principal Jennifer Tomalty cited the teacher’s work to inspire and mentor new music teachers in the district, as well as the outstanding participation rate of Leary students in orchestra and band (over 90 percent!), as well as chorus.

“It’s wonderful that such a well-regarded organization would want to recognize music teachers such as Linda,” said Tomalty. “It is only through these educators that children will grow up to have an appreciation of music, the arts, and a conviction that they have the talent, drive, and skill to make a living in the arts.”

Following the nomination deadline of Friday, January 29, the awards committee (which includes RPO musicians and local educators) will choose finalists and then send a representative to make school visits.

“We want to see how they engage students in the classroom, and how they are creating an atmosphere of excitement toward music,” said Anna Steltenpohl, chair of the committee and RPO oboe and English horn player. “We want to see how they are bringing music alive.”

“It was such an honor to receive this award in 2015,” said Linda Rosebrough, who has been teaching for 23 years. “I want to thank the RPO for continuing with this program and taking special note of the many fine music educators that we have in the Rochester area.”

2016 award winners will be notified prior to the concert on April 14, and will enjoy a free ticket to the concert as well as onstage recognition and an invitation to a private party later that evening.

For more information and to submit a nomination, visit rpo.org/education
Deadline: Friday, January 29