Kathy Fishburn Excellence in Orchestra Award Committee - Mu Omicron

Kathy Fishburn Excellence in Orchestra Award

Committee Personnel, Eligibility & Selection Process

Committee Structure Overview

Chairperson: The Chapter President

Composition

  • Minimum of five (5) members
  • Maximum of seven (7) members
  • Must be current Active Members
  • Must be in good standing
  • Includes exactly one (1) Past President

Geographic Representation

  • Minimum of one (1) member from DFW Area
  • Minimum of one (1) member from Houston Area
  • Minimum of one (1) member from Austin / San Antonio
  • Minimum of one (1) member from West / South / East Texas
Ineligibility & Conflicts of Interest:
  • Nominators: Anyone who nominates a candidate for this award is strictly ineligible to serve on the selection committee.
  • Executive Board Restriction: Current serving Mu Omicron Executive Board members are completely prohibited from nominating anyone for the Kathy Fishburn Excellence in Orchestra Award.

Nominee Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the award, a nominee must fulfill all of the following requirements:

  • Mu Omicron Membership: Is NOT required to be a current member of Mu Omicron.
  • Experience: Possesses fifteen (15) or more years of orchestra teaching experience.
  • Current Role: Is currently active as a public school Orchestra Director in the state of Texas.
  • Demonstrated Leadership: Explicitly displays leadership within Texas Orchestra programs (e.g., serving as Region Chair, hosting TMEA/UIL events, dedicated committee service, hosting student teachers, or participating in the TMEA Mentor program).
  • Teaching Excellence: Consistently demonstrates superior classroom teaching throughout their career via performance benchmarks (e.g., UIL ratings, Midwest Clinic invitations, or Honor Orchestra placement).

Selection Process & Critical Dates

The annual timeline for submission, notification, and award presentation is strictly scheduled as follows:

  • September 1st: Formal window opens. The committee begins accepting nominations.
  • November 30th: Submission window closes. Deadline for all award nominations.
  • January 15th: Selection complete. The chosen recipient shall be formally notified by this date.
Attendance Requirement: The award recipient must be physically present at the annual TMEA Convention to formally accept the award.