Announcing the 2009 Selection for the Mary V. Dodge Award
for Outstanding Music in the Schools: Corey Averill
Pictured above: Corey Averill, PYP's Selection for the Mary V. Dodge 2009
Outstanding School Music Teacher, and Mary Evans,
the students who nominated him.
Submission by: Mary Evans
School: Portland Waldorf School
Music Teacher: Mr. Corey Averill
Class: 7th/8th Grade Orchestra
I am in 8th grade at the Portland Waldorf School and I would like to nominate my orchestra teacher, Corey Averill, for this award. At my school everyone starts violin in 3rd grade. That was the first class I had with Mr. Averill and he quickly became one of my favorite teachers and a favorite of many of my classmates as well.
Mr. Averill makes learning fun. He loves to tell stories about his two children and about being a professional cellist. He is also very good at letting everyone work at their own level as long as they do their best. Since everyone is required to play an instrument at my school, it is sometimes hard to keep everyone motivated. But Mr. Averill always believes in every single one of us, even those who don't really want to be there. His enthusiasm inspires all his students to be the best that they can be, those who come to class with a passion for music, and those who do not.
No matter how busy he is (and he is always very busy) he always finds time outside of class to work with those of us who want to move farther ahead. Over the five years I have had Mr. Averill for a teacher, I have been part of two small chamber groups that he organized, a violin quartet and a string quartet, and I know that there have been others as well. He often has us perform to inspire the younger grades and even our own classes. Sometimes he performs for us and invites other professional musicians to play as well. He is always very enthusiastic both about the chamber groups and about his regular classes. I think that it is this enthusiasm, his faith in all students, his dedication, his kindness, and his funny personality that make Mr. Averill such a great and inspirational teacher. I think he really deserves this award because he truly is an outstanding music teacher!
About the award
Pictured above: Mary V. Dodge teaching her first orchestra, the Harney County Sagebrush Symphony Orchestra
from 1912-1917. Later she moved to Portland to conduct the Irvington School Orchestra.
PYP invites students to nominate their school music teachers and their outstanding programs for the public recognition they deserve.
Does your school music teacher inspire students? Do they build community? Do they encourage and instill excellence and dedication? Then nominate your school music teacher for the first Mary V. Dodge Award for Outstanding Music in the Schools during the 2008-2009 school year.
This long overdue award is named after PYP’s founder, a music teacher from Portland’s Irvington School, who created the forerunner of today’s PYP with the most advanced students in her orchestra class. Because back then, just as it is today, it all starts in the schools.
