This award is presented annually to the member who has distinguished him or herself through developing consistently stellar performing ensembles. Nominations are received from the membership and forwarded to the selection committee.
Click on a name for more information:
• 1973 LaVerne Reimer
• 1974 Mark Hindsley
• 1975 Cloyd Myers
• 1976 Lawrence Fogelberg
• 1977 Warren Felts
• 1978 Robert E. Jorgensen
• 1979 W. C. Edwards
• 1980 Robert B. Allan
• 1981 Victor Zajec
• 1982 G. Jack Shuler
• 1983 Harold Luhman
• 1984 Jon Dugle
• 1985 Bernard Stiner
• 1986 Robert E. Gray
• 1987 John Janusek
• 1988 Lyle Hopkins
• 1989 Norbert Meier
• 1990 Anton J. Cerveny
• 1991 Richard A. Alderman
• 1992 Roman R. Palmer
• 1993 Steven W. Eggelston
• 1994 Randolph F. Kummer
• 1995 Gary R. Hillquist
• 1996 Donald S. Lewellen
• 1997 William C. Worra
• 1998 Rex E. Benson
• 1999 Daniel A. Gannon
• 2000 Edward E. Winkler
• 2001 James T. Conder
• 2002 George P. Foeller
• 2003 John A. Thomson
• 2004 David C. Vroman
• 2005 Hal Hokeson
• 2006 Gene Montgomery
• 2007 John Christie
• 2008 Donald Shupe
• 2009 Bernie Potter
• 2010 Raeleen Horn
• 2011 Keith Schmink
• 2012 James Hile
• 2013 Joseph Manfredo
• 2014 David Maccabee
• 2015 David Bean
• 2016 Brian Logan
• 2017 Scott Casagrande
• 2018 Thomas Birkner
• 2019 (none selected)
• 2020 (none selected)
• 2021 Steven Scherer
• 2022 (none selected)
Steven Scherer
Steven Scherer has been Director of Bands at Geneseo High School since 2002, and is in his 34th year of teaching. His teaching duties include Honors Band, Marching Band, Fall Symphonic Band (non-marching) A.P. Music Theory, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Musical Pit Orchestra, and Green Steel, steel drum ensemble.
Mr. Scherer received a B.A. in Music Education from Western Illinois University. He earned his M.M.E. from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. He has served as the General Chairman of the NCIC Conference Music Festival, and the Band Division Chairman of ILMEA District 2. He is a member of the Illinois Music Education Association, NAfME, Phi Beta Mu, and the National Band Association. Mr. Scherer also appears occasionally as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Mr. Scherer has presented twice at the ILMEA Illinois Music Education Conference. He has a long history of involvement with Drum and Bugle Corps as a performer, instructor, judge, and alumni organizer. Mr. Scherer received a nomination and advanced to quarterfinals for The Grammy Foundation Music Educator Award. He is a multiple recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, and has received multiple citations for “Most Inspirational Teacher” from Western Illinois University.
Recent accomplishments if Mr. Scherer’s Geneseo High School Honors Band include:
2019 NAMM Best Communities for Music Education
2019 National Band Association Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award
2020 Music For All National Concert Band Festival