For the City Times

STEVENS POINT — Several Stevens Point area students were the recipients of several music awards.  These awards were presented earlier this month at an awards ceremony.

All the students study privately with Ms. Gail Heywood at Heywood Music Studios. Heywood Music Studios is a local piano, guitar and voice studio that teaches about 50 students each week.

Heywood holds a master’s in music education degree, is a professional musician and a nationally certified teacher of music. She teaches students of all ages and has taught in both public and private schools, and is also a member of the Music Teachers National Association, is President of the Stevens Point Area Music Teachers Association and is the current Vice-President of the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association.  She maintains two studios, one at Heid Music in Stevens Point, and a second location in Rudolph.

The first award was the Music Teachers National Association Achievement Award.  The program is designed to help encourage the students in the teacher’s studio to continue their music study and to strive to achieve goals that will help them not only become better musicians but that will enhance their love for and appreciation of music.  

The goals included community service projects, advanced music history study, learning pieces from different historical style periods, attending a local fine arts concert, composing a piece of music, conducting research on music history, and fulfilling their personal practice goal objective.  The student/teacher/parent triangle helped to motivate and encourage the student to complete their objectives.

“I was overwhelmed by the energy and enthusiasm the students had to complete their goals.  Several children completed music related service projects in the community events including Neighborhood Table, Carols for a Cause Benefit Play-a-thon, school talent shows, performing in jazz band, accompanying other students or their church,” Heywood stated.

Others mentored younger students, created music games, attended area concerts. After all, music is meant to be shared, and these young artists are an inspiration to the community! It is inspirational to see these young musicians are using their time, talents and treasures with others.”

The following students are the 2019 recipients of the Music Teachers National Association Achievement Award: Samuel Caldwell, Josh Davis, Matt Davis, Lucas Haemmerle, Emma Harger, Lilly Harger, John Jazdzewski, Norah Lawrence,  Ella Solin, and Payton Vollendorf.

The following students also received awards for their participation in the statewide Wisconsin Music Teachers Association auditions, held this past March.

Certificates:  Samuel Caldwell, Isabelle Francis, Samatha Francis, Lucas Haemmerle, Ava Jazdzewski, John Jadzewski, Norah Lawrence, Morgan Nebel-Heath,

22 pt. plaque:  Nate Haemmerle, Emma Harger, Arianna Jazdzewski, Marissa Williams

50-point award:  Payton Vollendorf

100-point plaque:  Josh Davis, Matt Davis

Emma Harger will compete in the statewide Badger Keyboard Competition, which took place on May 19th.
Matt Davis was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Achievement in Music Study Award.  This award is presented to a student who displays exceptional musicianship qualities, enthusiasm, commitment and is extremely motivated.  

Daniel Linder and Zach Stremer received the graduating senior awards; Zach Stremer is the recipient of the Max Kopchinski Memorial Scholarship—which was awarded through the Stevens Point Area Music Teachers Association.

Music Teachers National Association is a nonprofit organization of independent and collegiate music teachers committed to furthering the art of music through teaching, performance, composition and scholarly research. Founded in 1876, Music Teachers National Association is the oldest professional music teacher association in the United States. For information on lessons and classes with Gail Heywood, please contact 715-204-4071 or heywoodmusicstudios.com