TOLEDO, OH — Today, The Toledo Symphony (TSO) announced Justin Rhoades as the recipient of its 2023 Outstanding Music Educator Award. Mr. Rhoades is the band director for Washington Local Schools. This is the fourth consecutive year the TSO has honored current, full-time, K-12 music educators who teach music in public and private schools in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region.

“When you come to the symphony, the incredible musicians you see on stage have all had very special mentors,” says Alain Trudel, Music Director of Toldeo Symphony Orchestra. “Often, as it was in my case, that person is our high school music teacher. The dedication of our four finalists is an example and inspiration for all to follow as we foster the next generation of musicians and importantly, humans.”

Through the Outstanding Music Educator Award, the Toledo Symphony recognizes the vital role music teachers play in the lives of the students they teach. Music teachers introduce, instill, and cultivate a love of music that surpasses the time spent in the classroom. They lay the foundation for a lifetime of appreciation that serves to perpetuate these artforms.

Justin Rhoades was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was raised in the west-side suburb of Avon. Growing up, Justin knew the importance of music and education, with everyone in his immediate family playing an instrument, and having a grandmother who was a decorated educator and accomplished pianist. Combining his love for both influences, Mr. Rhoades received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Bowling Green State University (BGSU). He also received his master’s degree from BGSU and completed post-graduate studies at Ashland University and VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. Mr. Rhoades has served as instrumental music educator at Washington Local Schools (WLS) in Toledo since 2001, teaching grades 6-12.

“Intelligent, talented, passionate, driven, successful, motivating - all of these words describe Washington Local Schools' educator Mr. Rhoades!” says Jennifer Bronikowski, Principal of Whitmer High School. “He is the teacher students will talk about when they look back on their time in school and remember the teacher who had the most significant impact. Mr. Rhoades has all the characteristics of an accomplished teacher. He is a top notch professional and an even better human being."

“I am grateful to the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts for recognizing the vital importance of music education in the region,” says Rhoades. “I wish to share this accolade with the other worthy nominees: Sally Gardiner, Nathan Heath, Yvonne Youngblood, and my talented colleagues Kylene Maroon and John Georgeson, who equally contribute to the successes of our band program,” says

Rhoades. “I am also thankful to the Washington Local Schools community for their support of the arts; and most importantly, our hardworking students who love making music.”

“We are honored to pay this public tribute to these heroes of our community. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to acknowledge their important contributions and to show our appreciation,” says Trudel.

Outstanding Music Educator Award Nominees included Jennifer Cobb (Archbold Elementary), Joseph Kuzdzal (Clay High School), Dawn Lytten (Burroughs Elementary), Heather Rotunno (Shoreland Elementary), Michael Smith (Perrysburg High School), and Jay Welenc (Toledo School for the Arts). Finalists included Sally Gardiner (Rossford Exempted Village School), Nathan Heath (Northview High School), and Yvonne Youngblood (Emmanuel Christian School).

For more information about Toledo Symphony’s Outstanding Music Educator Award or educational outreach opportunities for schools, please contact Rachel Schultz at rschultz@artstoledo.com or visit toledosymphony.com/education.

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ABOUT TOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra is a community-supported organization of professional musicians and teachers who deliver quality performance and music education for all. 

Formed in 1943 as The Friends of Music and incorporated in 1951 as the Toledo Orchestra Association, Inc., the Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has grown from a core group of twenty-two part-time musicians to a regional orchestra that employs sixty-nine professional musicians who consider the Toledo Symphony their primary employer, as well as numerous extra players annually as repertoire demands. 

On January 1, 2019, the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet officially merged to form the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), a new non-profit organization dedicated to providing exceptional live music and dance performances and education for the region. This partnership promises to create new and invigorating programs, provide cost and revenue synergies in operations, and integrate the arts through shared educational missions. 

The Toledo Symphony reaches more than 260,000 individuals annually through performances and education programs. The series concerts (Masterworks, Pops, Chamber) are the critical underpinning of the orchestra’s artistic mission and regularly draw people from 135 postal zip codes. Education programs, student performances, and community concerts are held in schools, neighborhood churches, performing arts centers, and community facilities throughout the region; many are offered at no charge or provided at a reduced fee to help expand participation.