Award Recipients

2022-23

Outstanding Music Educator: HIGH SCHOOL BAND
Katja Otto-Gentry, Kansas City-Schlagle HS

Outstanding Music Educator: MIDDLE LEVEL BAND
David Wingerson, Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights MS

Outstanding Music Educator: ELEMENTARY BAND
Kendra Temaat, Eudora Elem.

Outstanding Music Educator: YOUNG BAND
Garrett Jones, Topeka HS

Outstanding Music Educator: HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA
Angela Diaw, Kansas City-Wyandotte HS

Outstanding Music Educator: MIDDLE LEVEL ORCHESTRA
Heather Madgwick, Lawrence-West MS

Outstanding Music Educator: ELEMENTARY ORCHESTRA
Cori Simmons, Kansas City-Frances Willard Elem.

Outstanding Music Educator: YOUNG ORCHESTRA
Ryan Masotto, Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights HS

Outstanding Music Educator: HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR
Joshua East, Lawrence-Free State HS

Outstanding Music Educator: MIDDLE LEVEL CHOIR
Sarah Walker, McLouth MS

Outstanding Music Educator: ELEMENTARY CHOIR
Name: Katrina Jacobsen, Baldwin City Intermediate Center

Outstanding Music Educator: YOUNG CHOIR
Alex Piazza, Topeka HS

Outstanding ADMINISTRATOR
Matt Renk, Lawrence-Free State HS

2021-22
Cary Stahly, HS Band, Seaman HS
Ryan Simpson, ML Band, Seaman MS
Paul Morgenroth, Elementary Band, Lawrence West MS
Coleen Meyer, Young Band, KCK Carl B. Bruce

Brian White, HS Choir, Lansing
Amy Eckert, ML Choir, Atchison County Community MS
Sheri Bartel, Elementary Choir, Holton Elementary
Olivia Henning, Young Choir, Lawrence Free-State

Mariah Barnett, HS Orchestra, Lawrence HS
Anne Neal, ML Orchestra, KCK Carl B. Bruce
Courtney Nottingham, Elementary Orchestra, Kansas City Kansas
Heidi Parker, Young Orchestra, Washburn Rural

Rod Wittmer, Outstanding Administrator, Holton HS
2020-21
HS Band - Katie Grose, Jefferson West HS
HS Choir - Stuart O'Neil, Oskaloosa HS
HS Orchestra - Judy Erpelding, Free State HS

ML Band - Mark Vittetoe, Horton MS
ML Choir - Craig MacCauley, Lawrence West JH
ML Orchestra - Aimee DeSotel, Kansas City Eisenhower MS

Elem. Level Band - Charles VanMiddlesworth, Tonganoxie ES
Elem. Choir - Deann West, KCK
Elem. Orch - Martha Schreiner, KCK

Young Music Educator, Band - Tristan Bartley, McLouth
Young Music Educator, Choir - Allison Enneking, Eudora
Young Music Educator, Orchestra - Daniel McCready, Topeka

Admin - Jodie Lin, KCK
2019-20
Barry Evans - HS Band
Tom Gifford - HS Choral
Michelle Sweeten - HS Orchestra
Becky Jones - MS Band
Robert L. Schofer - MS Choral
Frank Glaser - MS Orchestra
Jayme Malsom - Elem. Band
Brett Scarborough - Elem. Choral
Pam Garrett - Elem. Orchestra
Garrett Jones - Young Music Educator Band
Emily Pons - Young Music Educator Choral
Russell Clark - Young Music Educator Orchestra
Kerry Brungardt - Outstanding Administrator
2018-19
Tammy Gigstad - HS Band
Dwayne Dunn - HS Choral
Martha Barnhill - HS Orchestra
Johanna Cox - MS Band
Wendi Bogard - MS Choral
Michelle Sweeten - MS Orchestra
Deborah Woodall Routledge - Elem. Band
Pete Gipson - Elem. Choral
Cori Simmons - Elem. Orchestra
Bronwyn Short - Young Music Educator Band
Laura Klaassen - Young Music Educator Choral
Forrest Evans - Young Music Educator Orchestra
Rick Moulin - Outstanding Administrator
2017-18
Outstanding Choir Teacher (High School) (tie)
Laura VanLeeuwen, Olathe West HS, 17 years
Pam Williamson, Olathe Northwest High School, 26 years

Outstanding Orchestra Teacher (High School)
Greg Ferguson, Olathe South HS, 30+ years

Outstanding Band Teacher (High School)
Daniel Freeman, 12 years at Blue Valley North High School

Outstanding Middle Level Band Director
Aimee DeSotel, Eisenhower MS (KCK) band/orchestra 6-8, 11 years, middle level band

Outstanding Middle Level Choir Director
Erin Stewart, Prairie Trail Middle School (Olathe), 16 years

Outstanding Middle Level Orchestra Director
Jennifer Klinkenberg, Prairie Trail Middle School, 17 years

Outstanding Elementary Music Teacher
Fred Zimmerman, Frank Rushton Elementary KCK, 25 years

Outstanding Honor Administrator
Jon Pfau, Superintendent of Oskaloosa Public Schools, USD #341

Outstanding Young Educators of the Year
  • Teresa Edgar, Strings Teacher at Washington High School, Bethel, JFK, & White Church Elementary Schools in Kansas City Kansas Public Schools
  • Joel Wagoner, Assistant Director of Bands at Blue Valley North High School and 5th Grade Beginning Band Instructor at Valley Park and Mission Trail Elementary Schools.
2016-17
High School Band - Avian Bear
High School Choir - Jason Sickel
Middle Level Band - Stuart O'Neil
Middle Level Choir - Gretchen Harrison
Elementary Band - Chris Reynolds
Elementary Choir - Lisa Tironi

Outstanding Young Band Director
Robert Davis, Director of Bands at Olathe Northwest High School

Outstanding Young Choir Director
Erin Buffum, Director of Choirs at Baldwin Middle and High Schools

Outstanding Young Elementary Educator
Molli Haller, Elementary Music Teacher at State Street Elementary School, Topeka

Outstanding Young Orchestra Director
Judy Erpelding, Orchestra Director at Free State High School