Awards
The Nick Angiulo Music Educator of the Year Award
Nick was born in Canton Ohio on February 27, 1932, the height of the Depression. Nick was one of five children of Italian immigrants. Growing up as the son of immigrants, in a poor neighborhood, shaped Nick’s outlook on life and opportunity. In 1951, Nick joined the Air Force, and was accepted to the Air Force Band stationed at Mather Air Field. In 1953, Nick married Alice and started a family. Nick left the Air Force using his GI Bill to pay for college. In 1959, Nick graduated from the College of the Pacific with a major in music and a minor in Spanish.
Nick started teaching in the fall of 1959 at Sacramento High School, alongside Aubrey Penman. In 1968, Nick was reassigned to Burbank High School; however the John F. Kennedy job opened and Nick jumped at the opportunity. His tenure at Kennedy brought many successes, which include representing California at the 1976 Bicentennial Parade in Washington DC. Nick’s bands at Kennedy set the standard that many of us still aim for today.
In 1984 Nick became the Music Supervisor for Sacramento Unified School District. After Nick retired from Sac. City, he took a part time position at CSUS, eventually overseeing Instrumental Music Student Teachers. During this time Nick’s guidance had a positive influence on many young teachers. Nick helped run the Capitol Section GEMF and the state Solo and Ensemble festival for many years, as well as organizing the state retirement luncheon each spring. Nick was named to the California Music Educators Association’s Hall of Fame in 2010.
Nick past on April 14, 2018, leaving a legacy of excellence, kindness and friendship to all that meet him.
2023 Recipients
Aaron Smith, Nick Angiulo Music Educator of the Year
Kimberly Foree, Outstanding Elementary Educator
Paul Varoff, Outstanding Band Educator
Shawn Spiess, Outstanding Choral Educator
Greg Brucker, Outstanding Orchestral Educator
Becky Stewart, Outstanding Title 1 Educator
Matthew McCracken, Outstanding Administrator
Mike & Theresa McLelland, Outstanding Service Award
Past Recipients
2023
Aaron Smith, Nick Angiulo Music Educator of the Year
Kimberly Foree, Outstanding Elementary Educator
Paul Varoff, Outstanding Band Educator
Shawn Spiess, Outstanding Choral Educator
Greg Brucker, Outstanding Orchestral Educator
Becky Stewart, Outstanding Title 1 Educator
Matthew McCracken, Outstanding Administrator
Mike & Theresa McLelland, Outstanding Service Award
2022
Joan Slabaugh, Nick Angiulo Music Educator of the Year
Kate Branuela, Outstanding Elementary Educator
John Brasier, Outstanding Band Educator
Susanna Peeples, Outstanding Choral Educator
Nathan Courtwright, Outstanding Orchestral Educator
Christie Beymer, Jim Hays, Tyler Kreiger, Outstanding Administrator
Al & Sherilyn Petterson, Outstanding Service Award
2021
Janet Thorgrimson,
Nick Angiulo Music Educator of the Year
Sonia Takanikos,
Distinguished Service Award
2020
Elaine Wersky, Nick Angiulo Music Educator of the Year
Janet Thorgrimson, Outstanding Elementary Educator
Mike Mangonon, Outstanding Band Educator
Tina Harris, Outstanding Choral Educator
Tom Douglass, Outstanding Orchestral Educator
Paula Duncan, Outstanding Administrator
Glen & Rosie Sabado, Outstanding Service Award
2017
Curtis Gaesser, Music Educator of the Year
Wendy Carey, Excellence in Music Education
Mario Sebastian, Excellence in Music Education
George Dozet, Excellence in Music Education
Derk Garcia, Excellence in Music Education
2012
Glen Cain, Music Educator of the Year
2011
Carol Kouklis, Music Educator of the Year
2010
Mark Tulga, Music Educator of the Year
2009
Cindy Teresi, Music Educator of the Year
2008
Robin Willmer, Music Educator of the Year
2007
Donald Kendrick, Music Educator of the Year
2006
Margie Moon, Music Educator of the Year
2005
Kendall Yee, Music Educator of the Year
2004
Kevin Glaser, Music Educator of the Year
2003
Roy Fulmer, Music Educator of the Year
2002
William Zinn, Music Educator of the Year
2001
Brad North, Music Educator of the Year
2000
David Yamamoto, Music Educator of the Year
Elain Wersky, Excellence in Music Education
Ilda Ballin, Excellence in Music Education
Marge Lehr, Excellence in Music Education
Jerry Kirkpatrick, Excellence in Music Education(?)
1999
Sue Metz, Music Educator of the Year
Lois Carah, Excellence in Music Education
Don Wersky, Excellence in Music Education
Al Muller, Excellence in Music Education
Arnie Adreani, Excellence in Music Education
Senator Leroy Greene, Supporter of Music Education
1998
Paul Wurschmidt, Music Educator of the Year
Michelle Ratley, Excellence in Music Education
Lynn Stevens, Excellence in Music Education
Judd Chew, Outstanding Service to Music Education
1997
Bill Adam, Music Educator of the Year
Joss Bravo, Excellence in Music Education
Lorna Perpall, Excellence in Music Education
Milton Dick, Lifetime of Service to Music Education
Jack Hyde, Outstanding Service to Music Education
1996
Fred Lange, Music Educator of the Year
Jon Maloney, Excellence in Music Education
Janet Moe, Excellence in Music Education
Isac Paggett, Excellence in Music Education
William Bobolis, Lifetime of Service to Music Education
Elva Triplett, Lifetime of Service to Music Education
1995
Ralph Hughes, Music Educator of the Year
Rollin Potter, Excellence in Music Education
Mary Benson, Excellence in Music Education
Curtis Gaeser, Excellence in Music Education
Fredrick Westphal, Lifetime of Service to Music Education
Monroe DeJarnette, Lifetime of Service to Music Education
1994
Geff Igarashi, Music Educator of the Year
Craig Faniani, Excellence in Music Education
Janet Thorgrimson, Excellence in Music Education
Nina Vigel, Excellence in Music Education
Perla Warren, Excellence in Music Education
Joe Teresi, Outstanding Service to Music Education
1993
Duane Cunningham, Music Educator of the Year
Nancy Kreis, Excellence in Music Education
Dr. Carole Delaney, Excellence in Music Education
Herb Harrison, Excellence in Music Education
Ronald Holloway, Excellence in Music Education
Dorla Menmuir, Excellence in Music Education
Sue Metz, Excellence in Music Education
1992
Gerald Lopes, Music Educator of the Year
Roy Fulmer, Excellence in Music Education
Sherry Lee Krauss, Excellence in Music Education
Lester Lehr, Excellence in Music Education
Tony Mickela, Excellence in Music Education
Lynn Tetlow, Excellence in Music Education
Leonard Pollacchi, Excellence in Music Education