VASTA offers five awards to members each year.  The Executive Board takes nominations each year in October and announces winners at our annual General Membership Meeting held at the VMEA Conference.  Learn more about our awards below!

Nominate members for our annual awards by clicking here.

OUTSTANDING STRING TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD 

This award is designed to recognize string teachers with six or more years of teaching experience who have advanced the cause and level of string playing and teaching in the state of Virginia. Public and private school, as well as studio and college teachers are eligible for this award. Candidates are expected to demonstrate outstanding achievement in at least some of the following areas: teaching, performance, program building, clinics, workshops, master classes, coaching, etc. Nominees for this award must be members of VASTA or be willing to become members of VASTA to accept the award.

OUTSTANDING NEW STRING/ORCHESTRA TEACHER AWARD 

This award is designed to recognize string/orchestra teachers with one to five years of full-time teaching experience who have exhibited the highest levels of leadership, dedication, and achievement in public or private schools in the state of Virginia. Candidates are expected to have demonstrated excellence in at least one of the following areas: teaching, program building, coaching, advocacy, etc. Nominees for this award must be members of VASTA or be willing to become members of VASTA to accept the award.

ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Nominees must currently teach in a public or private school, or direct a youth orchestra. The candidate must have demonstrated outstanding achievement as an orchestra teacher and conductor, resulting in major advancement of that candidate’s program with documentation of unusual success. . Nominees for this award must be members of VASTA or be willing to become members of VASTA to accept the award

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD (INDIVIDUAL) 

Nominations will be considered for individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the cause of string and/or orchestra education and performance in Virginia. Nominees may be school administrators or supervisors who have supported string and/or orchestra programs to an extraordinary degree, as well as instrument repair persons, composers, conductors, and others who have made a significant difference to string and/or orchestra programs.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD (BUSINESS) 

This award is designed to recognize businesses that have provided extraordinary support and services to and for string and/or orchestra programs in Virginia

FUTURE MUSIC TEACHER AWARD

This award is designed to recognize collegiate string pedagogy or music education majors who have exhibited the highest levels of leadership, dedication, and achievement across institutions of higher learning in the state of Virginia. Candidates are expected to have demonstrated a passion for music teaching and a dedication to their craft. Nominees for this award must be members of VASTA or be willing to become members of VASTA to accept the award.

MUSIC EDUCATION MENTOR

Nominations will be considered for a mentor who has made outstanding contributions to the cause of string and/or orchestra education and performance in Virginia through the mentorship and lifting up of other teachers. Nominees may be school music teachers or private teachers who have taken on the role of a mentor either formally or informally. This candidate is always ready to help and has gone above and beyond the call of duty for a mentor.