This honor recognizes individuals who have provided extraordinary support and contributions toward traditional jazz education in our community, and is awarded approximately every other year.

Past Award Winners

2017 – Craig Faniani

A popular and talented musician, Craig Faniani was an award-winning band director of the Rio Americano High School music program for 25 years. He went on to become the Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for the San Juan Unified School District, educating administrators, principals, and superintendents on the importance of Arts in our education and how vital it is to incorporate this into the lives of our students.

2014 – Felicia Weatherly

As a music teacher at River City High School in West Sacramento, CA, Felicia created a traditional jazz program and organized a student band called Syncopating Sea-Monkeys. She has participated in virtually every program that the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society has offered, including the annual Sacramento Music Festival and Teagarden Jazz Camp.

2012 – Celia Cottle

Celia, a music educator in Davis, CA, has been organizing and directing traditional jazz ensembles and combos for over 20 years. She works with the Davis High School jazz band’s saxophone section and her youth bands have entertained at the Sacramento Music Festival since 1998 and at the Traditional Jazz Youth Band Festival since its inception.