Evan Billiter, Microwave Dave, Antony Sharpe
Music Educator and Musician Educator Honoree Awards
Each year during the Microwave Dave Day, the Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation, nominates two individuals as our Music Educator Honoree and our Musician Educator Nominee. This prestigious award is presented yearly to an educator or musician who has shown exemplary compassion and fortitude for advancing music education in his or her community. These two individuals are recognized for their willingness to share their gift, and vision through their everyday efforts of music education as it touches the lives of so many young aspiring students. Through their passion they continue to provide inspiration and foster life skills that will benefit students far beyond their musical dreams and aspirations.
If you know someone that has gone above and beyond their everyday work environment to assist in fostering music education in North Alabama – we would like to know about them.
An application has been provided for you to submit this education hero.
Past Recipients:
2015: “Microwave Dave” Gallaher, for his decades of volunteer service to the community helping teachers with music education, and playing benefits for various good causes.
2016:Musician Educator honoree: Antony Sharpe, for his work with special needs kids at Merrimack.
Music Educator honoree: Cherise Albright, Curriculum Specialist for AAA and Lee High magnet schools.
2017: Musician Educator honoree: Chip Guldbro, who has been involved with music education for over 26 years. Former guitar teacher at Lee High.
Music Educator honoree: Angela Walker, founder of Huntsville Community Drumline.
2018: Musician Educator honoree: Granville Oldham. Granville Oldham’s resume is too extensive to do it justice here. He has been a choral director, music teacher and performer for 46 years, all over the world. He has conducted and performed in various festivals, participated in workshops and been featured in many performances.
Music Educator award: Rebecca and William Wortham. William learned how to sing harmony as a child, and tutored other kids in various musical instruments. He has been a music teacher all his adult life, started the strings program at Morris Elementary, and with Rebecca, founded the Madison City Youth Orchestra. Rebecca also started tutoring other music students as a child. As an adult she has taught music in public, private, homeschool and college settings. In 2010 she founded, with William, the Madison City Youth Orchestra, which has served over 500 students.
2019: Musician Educator award: Russell Gulley. Our 2019 Musician Educator Honoree is Mr. Russell Gulley. Russell has a long history as a Muscle Shoals music veteran and has toured extensively and recorded his own music, as well as writing songs recorded by well-known artists. In addition to his blues and roots music artistry, Russell has been active in music education for many years, taking his arts-in-education program to schools across Alabama. Russ has been a mentor to others in the field of music education. In 2015, Alabama State Council on the Arts awarded Russell Gulley the Fellowship for Arts Administration.
Music Educator award: Theo Vernon. Theo Vernon earned a BM degree in saxophone performance, a BS degree in music education, and a Masters of Music Education degree. In 2003, he became the first Band Director in the state of Alabama to receive National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in Music. Mr. Vernon was appointed Associate Director of Bands at Grissom High School in August 1985. Currently he works with the marching band, conducts the award-winning Symphonic Band II and directs the two Jazz Bands. He also performs with the Huntsville Symphony and Broadway Theater League touring and local musical productions.
2020: Virtual Microwave Dave Day, no honorees
2021: Musician Educator award: Danny and Susan Davis.
Music Educator award: Renee Collins.
2022: Musician Educator award: Marcus Pope
Music Educator award: Mario Maitland
2023: Musician Educator award: Wanda Wesolowski
Music Educator award: Quentin Roddie