Nominations Are Now Open for Phila. Youth Orchestra's 6th Annual Ovation Award

For the past five years, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and its partners have heard wonderful, inspiring stories about music teachers in the Philadelphia region. And, now is the time for current and former students of all ages to, once again, nominate the "music teacher who changed my life" for the 6th Annual Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Ovation Award. Nominees are asked to submit a 250-word statement about their special music teacher for the PYO Ovation Award, which is sponsored by Jacobs Music Company, J.W. Pepper and WRTI-90.1 FM.

Nominations opened on March 1, 2019 with the deadline being March 31, 2019. Nominees should have imparted musical skills and knowledge, but also helped build students' character, self-confidence, and capabilities that have impacted overall development and achievements. To nominate a music teacher for the PYO Ovation Award, statements should be submitted online at www.pyos.org. Nominees from prior years are still eligible and nominators are welcomed and strongly encouraged to nominate them again. A blue-ribbon panel of representatives from major music organizations and music departments of area universities will choose ten finalists and the award winner. All finalists are awarded prizes with the grand prize winner also receiving a $1,000 honorarium. Additionally, the nominator of the grand prize winner will receive a $250 gift card. The winning presentation will take place on Sunday, June 2, 3 p.m. prior to the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra performance in Verizon Hall of the Kimmel Center of Performing Arts.

Louis Scaglione, president and music director of PYO, is very proud of this award. He said, "Each year we read such inspirational submissions by nominators. It is always difficult to select a winner for our impressive team of judges. As a music education institution, we at Philadelphia Youth Orchestra witness the positive impact teachers have on their students every day. Their dedication to their students is clear from the number of nominations we receive each year. We are thrilled to enter our sixth year of this award and, with the support of our outstanding partners, be able to bring recognition to music educators." so pleased to have this opportunity to recognize music educators who rarely get the attention they deserve."

Each of the honorees from the past five years is unique in their own way. The first recipient of the Ovation Award, who was honored in June 2014, is Bill Cain, a music teacher and Band Director at Wissahickon Middle School in the Wissahickon School District. When he received this award he said, "This is the best recognition for an educator that anyone could ever have! Thank you for reminding all music teachers that we are not alone in this battle for music to survive and how important it is for music to stay on the daily schedule in our schools. Schools must teach the whole child and exercise both sides of the brain." His nominator was Michael Brookshire, who knew Bill for 30 years. Bill taught him when he was the percussion instructor for Upper Moreland High School Band.

The second recipient was 83-year-old saxophonist, teacher and mentor Tony Williams. His nominator was Mark Mitchell. In his essay, Mitchell explained that Williams not only introduced him to new techniques of playing saxophone, live performances in front of an audience, and jazz music at the Mount Airy Cultural Center that Williams founded, but he also "inspired me to see the importance and desire to give back through volunteerism, he showed me examples of leadership, and he always stated that he uses music as the vehicle to unlock a young person's potential." When Williams was presented the award, he beamed. He later said, "Of all the honors I have received, this captures me the most. I am so amazed to be the one chosen among so many outstanding people standing around me."

The third year a cello teacher, Jennifer Jie Jin, was recognized. She is the Director of the Honor String Ensemble at Archbishop John Carroll High School, Co-Director of Chamber Strings Summer Music Festival, Vivace Music Competition and Vivace Orchestra. Jin's nominator was Jessica Zhang, a private cello student who plays cello in the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra. She not only enhanced her cello skills under the guidance of Jin, she also learned to perform in front of an audience. She said, "Mrs. Jin is a super teacher. My cello skill improved quickly under her mentorship and I was so proud to perform (annually) for a group of seniors. They all looked at me with love, like looking at their grandchild. I suddenly understood why we were here to play." Jin was honored to be a finalist and totally surprised to receive the grand prize honor. She said, "This honor is a tribute to all music educators who work tirelessly and passionately each and every day. I know that music is more than an interest or hobby. It has a significant impact on all of life as it builds self-esteem, cultural awareness and the desire to achieve."

The fourth-year music teacher Dimitri Kauriga, of Southampton, PA received the honor. He taught more than 30 years at Philadelphia High School for Girls as well as being a private teacher. Directly after receiving the honor, Kauriga said, "It's fantastic to be recognized, but being a part of music is the most beautiful part. When you're in the process of educating and you later realize the difference you make in someone's life, it is very meaningful". Kauriga's nominator, Elisabeth D'Alessandro met Kauriga while he taught her music in high school. D'Alessandro writes in her winning essay that Kauriga instilled a love of music in her so strong that she decided to pursue her current profession as a music teacher at The Philadelphia High School for Girls. D'Alessandro writes, "Mr. Kauriga was a model of commitment and dedication. He got to school early, stayed late, and rarely took a break. He embodied the work ethic which he demanded of his students. He inspired generations of students to achieve above and beyond what we thought we could. His faith in our ability gave use the confidence we needed to excel."

Last year, Shelley Beard Santore was the grand prize winner and had two nominators, Julianna Castillo of Wilmington, DE and Nicolette Sullivan-Cozza of Hockessin, DE. Castillo was eloquent. "Mrs. Beard Santore is a dynamic teacher whose work hours extend far beyond her studio. Her encouragement of my passion for music guided me to continue my studies on viola. Beyond teaching, Mrs. Beard Santore spends hours of her personal time arranging additional opportunities for her students. I am deeply indebted to Mrs. Beard Santore for creating an environment that fostered my early love of music through performance and a stimulating community." Sullivan-Cozza said, "In 2006, when I was just 3 years old, two life-impacting events happened to me. I met the music teacher who would stick with me for life and nurture me into the musician I am today, and I was diagnosed as bring on the autism spectrum. While these two things seem unrelated, they are tied closely together, for it is my teacher, Shelley Beard Santore, who helped me learn about music, discover my passion for viola, and, most of all, overcome my disabilities. As she taught me the viola she would also teach me other skills such as how to maintain eye contact, how to communicate effectively, how to maintain focus, and how to stay flexible. Most of all, Mrs. Shelley gave me my passion, and my voice."

The PYO organization is one of the nation's oldest and most highly respected youth orchestral and college preparatory music education institutions for gifted and talented students. Three renowned music organizations with historic ties to the Philadelphia community are partnering with PYO as sponsors of The Ovation Award: Jacobs Music, one of the nation's most respected piano merchants and the Tri-state region's exclusive representative for new and authentically restored Steinway & Sons pianos. Steinway's Boston and Essex pianos, J.W. Pepper, one of the leading sheet music merchants in the world and WRTI, broadcaster of the region's most comprehensive classical and jazz radio programming.

Chris Rinaldi, President of Jacobs Music Company and member of the PYO Board of Trustees, is happy to continue Jacobs' support of the PYO Ovation Award. He said, "We are very pleased to continue our partnership with PYO and have the honor of recognizing a deserving music teacher who makes such an impact on students and the future of classical music. As a PYO board member, this partnership is especially meaningful to me."

For more information and to access the Ovation Award application, visit www.pyos.org, or email questions to the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra at ovationaward@pyos.org