Awards for Outstanding Music Educators
CMEA Bay Section annually presents awards to outstanding educators in our region who have been nominated by their peers and confirmed by the Executive Board.
The awards, which are presented at the Winter Conference luncheon in January, are: 
Outstanding Music Educator Award, which is also presented at the CMEA State Conference Banquet in March,  
Gilbert Freitas Award for emerging and veteran instrumental music educators, sponsored by the Best Instrument Repair Company, Oakland. Lastly, The Outstanding Choral Music Educator award, sponsored by J.W. Pepper of San Francisco and The Outstanding Classroom/General Music Educator award, sponsored by the Scott Foresman - Silver Burdett company.

 

2011 Award Recipients: 

  • The CMEA Bay Section Outstanding Music Educator Award was presented to Dr. Thomas Tatton
  • The Gilbert T. Freitas Memorial Award-for an instrumental music educator with more than 7 Years experience, co-sponsored by Best Instrument Repair Company, Todd Summers
  • The Gilbert T. Freitas Memorial Award-for an instrumental music educator with less than 7 Years experience, co-sponsored by Best Instrument Repair Company, was presented to Christopher Marra.
  • The Outstanding Choral Educator Award, co-sponsored by J.W. Pepper was presented to Lucerne Mottaz.
  • The Outstanding Classroom General Music Educator award, co-sponsored by Scott Foresman/Silver Burdett was presented to Victoria Schmidt
Previous Outstanding Music Educator Award Recipients 
2012 - Cheryl Yee-Glass
2011 - Thomas Tatton
2010 - Edward C. Harris
2009 - Jack Martens
2008 - John Maltesster
2007 - Robert Athayde 
2006 - Timothy M. Smith  
2005 - Norman Dea  
2004 - Lucerne Mottaz 
2003 - Don Scott  
2002 - Michele Winter 
2001 - Kem F. Martinez 
2000 - Victoria Schmidt 
1999 - John Burn 
1998 - Orrin Cross III 
1997 - Leonora Gillard Sleeter
1996 - Vince Gomez  
1995 - Janice Gaynor 
1994 - Owen Goldsmith 
1993 - Bill Thompson 
1991 - Elliott Charnow 
1990 - Henry Use 
1988 - Steve Connolly 

 

Gilbert T. Freitas Annual Memorial Award (
For Achievement in Music Education)

Gilbert Freitas was one of the original owners of Best Music Company and Best Instrument Repair Company. He was an ardent supporter of music education in CMEA Bay Section and through his generosity over the years he donated resources to many schools, music camps and youth bands/orchestras, supplied scholarships, and used the resources of their Oakland stores to help poorer schools and their music programs. In many ways he was like the late Don Schmeer of Byron Hoyt Sheet Music Company, helping music education where it was needed most. Gil died in September 1985 at the young age of 56. This award pays tribute to the music education community in CMEA Bay Section in memory of Gilbert Freitas. There are two awards, one for a young teacher with less than 7 years of experience, and one for a veteran teacher with more than 7 years of experience. There is an award plaque and a monetary award for the recipients. CMEA Bay Section would like to thank Dick Akright and Bob Gross of Best Instrument Repair Company for the continued support of music education in the Bay Area.
Past Award Recipients

 

*-Less Than 7 Years Experience 
More Than 7 Years Experience

 

1987 - Ted Newton*
1988 - Marvin Nelson 
1988 - Norman Dea *
1989 - Henry Use 
1989 - Bruce McCay *
1990 - Steve Taylor *
1990 - Robert Athayde 
1991 - Robert Greenwood 
1991 - Sandra Beacock* 
1992 - Steve Connolly 
1992 - John Frantz *
1993 - Romano Marchetti 
1994 - Jeanette Brown* 
1994 - James Hodge 
1995 - Eve Eliseian *
1995 - Dalt Williams 
2003 - Michael Boitz* 
2003 - Edward C. Harris 
2004 - Vu Nguyen *
2004 - Michael Galisatus 
2005 - David Vickerman *
2005 - Dr. John Felder 
2006 - Dave Lewis *
2006 - Steve Mathews 
2007 - Timothy Harris *
2007 - Paul Yonemura  
2008 - Julie Bounds*
2008 - Paul Perazzo
2009 - Beth Dameron*
2009 - Greg Brown
2010 - Kellie Bowman*
2010 - Laurel Verissimo
2011 - Christopher Marra*
2011 - Todd Summers
2012 - Jessica Vaughan-Marra*
2012 - Rita Zigas-Brown

 

Outstanding Choral Music Educator Award Recipients
The Oustanding Choral Educator Award is co-Sponsored by J.W. Pepper and includes a $500 gift certificate.

 

2012 - Ken Rawden
2011 - Lucerne Mottaz
2010 - David Martin
2009 - Phil Robb
2008 - Anthony Arnold
2007 - Jim Yowell 
2006 - Gail Bowers 
2005 - Susan Stuart  
2004 - Bruce Koliha

 

Outstanding Classroom/General Music Educator Award Recipients
The Outstanding Classroom/General Music Award is co-Sponsored by Scott Foresman/Silver Burdett and includes a $500 gift certificate.

 

2012 - Kara Ireland-D'Ambriosio
2011 - Victoria Schmidt
2010 - Jay Beams
2009 - Jo Anne Warburton
2008 - Linda Covington
2007 - Karyn Silva 
2006 - Donna Smith 
2005 - Paul Kimball 
2004 - Mark Morello

 

 If you are interested in Nominateeing an educator for one of these awards please go to our Award Nomination Page or download the form here.