FVA AWARDS
CONGRATULATIONS
The Lindsay Keller Rising Star Award
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The Lindsay Keller Rising Star Award recognizes fourth- or fifth-year teachers who have maintained, grown, and/or established a choral program that is currently thriving under their leadership, within their first four to five years of their teaching.
Recipients
Cindy Ellis
Cindy Ellis is a Cuban-American vocalist and music educator. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education with jazz voice from Florida International University. She has performed and conducted her choral ensembles in a variety of venues including Adrienne Arsht Center, New World Symphony Hall, Gusman Center, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall.
As a jazz solo artist, she is frequently featured in venues throughout South Florida. Additionally, Mrs. Ellis performs around the world as an alto with The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers.
Mrs. Ellis is one of two full-time choral directors at Miami Arts Studio, a 6th-12th public performing arts magnet school in Miami, FL. In her 5 years at MAS, her vocal program has sent over 130 students to participate in Florida’s All-State Choirs and have only straight superior ratings at the annual Music Performance Assessment. In 2020, Mrs. Ellis was published as a contributing author on “Teaching with Heart,” available from GIA Publications.
Day by day, the MAS Vocal magnet strengthens both musically and as a family. Her goal is not to create professional musicians, but also kind, confident, passionate citizens who know what it is to be a part of something great, and who will reach for their full potential in any career they choose. Currently, Mrs. Ellis is seeking an online Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri.
Cara-lyn Mullholand
Cara-lyn Mullholand is the choral and theatre director at Dunedin High School. She attended Palm Beach Atlantic University where she earned her Bachelors degree in Music Education in 2018. She has been teaching for four years and has spent all of those years at Dunedin High School in Pinellas County. During this time, she developed a piano program at the school, directed eleven
musical productions and thirteen concerts, earned four superiors at district music performance assessments, participated annually in district solo and ensemble and travelled to Palm Beach County for state solo and ensemble this year. She was also recognized as an emerging teacher of the year candidate in 2019. She truly loves teaching music and prioritizes developing a supportive, comfortable community in her classroom.
The FVA Service Award
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The FVA Service Award’s goal is to recognize its recipient’s contribution of time, energy, expertise, finances and/or other resources that support choral music organizations and their students and teachers in Florida’s secondary schools. Recipients are those whose service aligns with the general intent of Florida Vocal Association’s mission and purpose:
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To promote and develop interest in vocal and general music in Florida’s secondary schools;
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To encourage improvement and advancement in school choral groups;
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To advance music education in the State of Florida; and,
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To encourage and assist the professional growth of the membership.
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Recipient
Dr. Peter Steenblik
Dr. Peter Steenblik is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of West Florida and the Artistic Director of the Choral Society of Pensacola. Previous appointments include Chorus Master for the Pensacola Opera, Director of Women's Chorus at the University of North Texas, and Director of Choral Music at Jordan High School (Salt Lake City). He holds a DMA in conducting and vocal pedagogy from the University of North Texas, an MM in conducting and BME choral music from the University of Utah.
Steenblik has served as the head of choral activities for the Utah Music Educators Association and on the Utah ACDA board as R & S Chair for Men's Choruses. An active presenter, adjudicator, and clinician, recent appearances have included the Chengdu Children’s Choir Festival, the Xi’an International Choral Festival, the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, various ACDA Division Conferences, the Florida Vocal Association State MPA and Summer Convention, Florida Music Educators Association Conference, the Festival Singers of Florida tour to Indonesia, the Utah Music Educators Association State Festival, and ACDA state conferences in Florida, Georgia, and Utah; he has conducted various honor choirs in Utah, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida. Steenblik’s choirs have performed by invitation at the ACDA Southern Division Conference with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, and in concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Symphony, Ballet West, Women’s Chorus of Dallas, Pensacola Opera, and Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.
An active baritone, Steenblik is a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir where he also made frequent solo appearances; he has most recently appeared with the Festival Singers of Florida. With additional training in musical theater, he often provides music direction for community productions. He is an experienced handbell director, composer, and clinician, a four-time assistant director for the Utah Ambassadors of Music European tour, and spent six years working in New York with the Louis August Jonas Foundation, a scholarship-based leadership-training program for international youth. He served a two-year LDS mission to the Philippines and is the former music director at First Christian Church in Lewisville, Texas. www.petersteenblik.com
The FVA John Rose Mentorship Award
The FVA John Rose Mentorship Award recognizes teachers who have continuously served as mentors, in an effort to ensure that the profession continues to thrive with qualified and passionate teachers.
Recipient
Tommy Jomisko
Tommy Jomisko is the Director of Choral Activities at Manatee High School. He is a product of Florida Schools, growing up in Manatee County Schools and attending Southeast High School. Tommy then attended the University of South Florida where he received his degree in Music Education. He also earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at USF.
While a student at USF, he refined his skills as both a performer and a conductor. Tommy had the privilege to perform with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and the Florida Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Missa Solemnis, and A German Requiem by Brahms conducted by Robert Shaw. He was also fortunate to work with conductors such as Jo-Michael Schiebe, Robert Summer, Eph Ely, and Doreen Rao. As a performer Tommy has also performed as a featured soloist in the community, including the Sarasota Choral Society’s annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah at Van Wezel. A highlight of his performing career was singing back-up for Sarah Brightman for her 3 stops in Florida.
After college Tommy moved back to Bradenton where he was named the Director of Choral Activities at his Alma Mater, Southeast High School. In his 8 years at Southeast High School Tommy began to rebuild the program. Under his direction, the SEHS Choral Department grew from 40 to over 100 students with his choirs consistently earning Superior Ratings at both District and State MPA’s. During this time he earned his Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from USF-Sarasota. Tommy now teaches at Manatee High School where his choirs continue to show success. Since arriving at Manatee High School the Choral Program has grown from less than 100 students to over 200. Manatee’s 5 Choral groups consistently receive Superior Ratings at District MPA. He has prepared choirs to sing in Carnegia Hall under the direction of Anton Armstrong, Dr. Craig Arnold, Dr. Sandra Snow, Dr. Andrew Minear and Dr. Jeffrey Benson. He is a sought-after guest-clinician and has been privileged to conduct honor choirs in Hillsborough County, Polk County, and Lee Counties.
Tommy’s involvement in the Florida Vocal Association has been extensive. Beginning with stints as both District Coordinator and Chairman for a total of 6 years for FVA District 11. As Co-chair of the MPA Revision committee with Mark Scott, he played a major role in the new State MPA format. Tommy recently finished his 2-year term as President of the Florida Vocal Association, a position he was humbled and thrilled to be trusted with in such an important association for our art form. In addition, Tommy has been the Coordinator of the multiple All-State honor choirs for FVA, working with renowned conductors such as Anton Armstrong, Andre Thomas, Craig Arnold, and most recently David Brunner and the All-State Reading Chorus.
Tommy is the proud husband of Mrs. Kelley Jomisko, a kindergarten teacher at Freedom Elementary in Manatee County. They have 3 wonderful children: Megan (24), Rylan (17) and Jordyn (15). Megan is pursuing her degree in business and hopes to work for a veterinarian after college to find a career that fulfills her love of animals and her organizational skills. Megan was a member of both the band and choral programs in HS and made All-State Choir for 6 straight years. Rylan is a member of the Manatee High School Varsity baseball team and participates in both the Band and Choral programs. Jordyn also loves to sing, but has a deep passion for visual art. She recently received a 2nd place ribbon at the Manatee County fair for her artwork. Both Rylan and Jordyn were recently members of the Manasota All-County Choir in FVA District 11.
The FVA Roll of Distinction
The FVA Roll of Distinction recognizes teachers no longer active in the classroom who have:
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Demonstrated excellence in the teaching of music and are renowned in the area of vocal and choral music education
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Demonstrated noteworthy contributions through dedication and service to Florida’s vocal music education, students and their community.
Recipient
Dr. Larry Reed
Larry Woods Reed, a native of South Carolina, has a career of more than 50 years in music education, choral music methods , conducting and teacher education. From early childhood he was active in choirs both at church and in the public schools. This led him to pursue a career in choral music and music education.
He attended Mars Hill Junior college, graduating from Furman University with a BA in Music Education- Choral emphasis. From there he began his teaching career in the Greeenville, SC schools , even before completing his student teaching. After three years there he moved to Baltimore City Schools for a 7 year tenure of K-12 choral teaching, including conducting the All-City Honor Jr. High choir.
His next opportunity was the P K Yonge Lab School at the University of Florida, Gainesville, where he again taught K-12 music and conducted 3 choirs. After that 3 year experience, he accepted a graduate assistantship at Columbia University, Teachers College. During a three year period he completed degree requirements for the MA, Med and EdD . His dissertation was a History of the Music Department at Teachers College,, which is like the history of Music Education in America, writ small.
Built on these academic successes, he and his wife Darlene accepted positions at Campbellsville University, KY. During that 7 stint, Reed rebuilt the Music Dept, added faculty and moved to a new facility, increasing enrollment significantly. He conducted the Chorale for those years, including extensive tours of the East and Mid-West.
Due to family health circumstances, he left Campbellsville and relocated in Pensacola Fl., taking positions in middle and high school choral programs. During these years he accepted adjunct positions at Pensacola Junior college and the University of West Florida. At UWF he began a 25 year teaching assignment in music education and choral music methods.
His duties included student teacher preparation and supervision. Eventually he was recognized by the University President for his service and was given the rank of Faculty Associate.
In 2020, he and his wife retired from UWF, where she had served as staff accompanist.
The FVA Hall of Fame Award
The FVA Hall of Fame recognizes current and former classroom teachers who have exemplified the following:
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Excellence in the teaching of music and renown in the area of vocal and choral music education
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Noteworthy contributions through dedication and service to vocal music education, with special emphasis on outstanding service to FVA.
Recipient
William "Bill" Renfroe
William Renfroe, is a retired Pinellas County veteran teacher, who taught choral music 40 years in Pinellas County School System with 30 years at Largo High School. He taught choral Methods at the University of South Florida and was a three-year interim choral director at St. Petersburg College. During his Largo High tutelage, the choral program traveled four times to Europe, once winning the Bournemouth International Music Festival, performed in Washington, D.C., performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall with John Rutter, and in the “Classical Music Festival” of Eisenstadt, Austria. LHS choirs were consistently considered a choral benchmark for Pinellas County. During his leadership, the LHS choir performed every year at Disney’s “Candlelight Processional”, with several years performing on multiple dates. Mr. Renfroe and his wife Deborah were choir directors at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Clearwater for almost twenty years back in the latter century. Mr. Renfroe was instrumental in taking their Chancel Choir on a pilgrimage concert tour of Italy in 1993. In addition, the choir sang the Sunday High Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome) and performed for Pope John Paul II. Among his many solo performing credits, Mr. Renfroe has performed with Walt Disney World’s “Voices of Liberty”, The Florida Orchestra, The National Orchestra in D.C., has performed and recorded with The Atlanta Symphony Chorus, with Robert Shaw conducting, has sung in joint Master Chorale/London Bach Choir performances with Sir David Willcocks and Sir Colin Davis. Mr. Renfroe has also performed with Rosemary Clooney, The Canadian Brass, Andy Williams, Richard Carpenter, and David Brubeck, and several others. Overseas, Mr. Renfroe has performed in England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Poland. Mr. Renfroe has performed as tenor soloist with the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria performing Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis”, and the “Harmonie Masse” of Haydn in the Esterhausy Palace , and surrounding communities, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. In addition, Mr. Renfroe has performed numerous oratorio tenor roles such as Haydn’s “Creation” Handel’s “Messiah”, Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”, Verdi’s “Requiem”, many Bach Cantatas as well as many other assorted solo selections with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and solo recital works. As a charter member of The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Mr. Renfroe was assistant director, and tenor section leader to past directors Dr. Jo-Michael Schiebe and Dr. Richard Zielinski. Mr. Renfroe received his baccalaureate from Stetson University in Music Education and vocal Performance. He did his masters study at the University of South Florida, in conducting with Dr. Robert Summer, and voice with the late Professor Everett Anderson. Within FVA, Mr. Renfroe has been a district chairperson four times, was twice a nominee for President, and is a board-certified adjudicator. He enjoys not only adjudicating, but going to schools and working with choir/directors, as well as serving as an onstage judge. He is currently a mentor teacher with Pinellas County. He was a 2013 nominee for the Pinellas County “Teacher of the Year” and is a past recipient of “Music Educator of the Year” for Pinellas County. Mr. Renfroe is listed multiple times in “Who’s Who Among American Teachers”. When asked what he does to relax, he said “…outside of travel and some music composing/arranging, I just like working with young people helping them become better students and better musicians… and future educators.”
Awards Chorale
Pilgrims' Hymn by Stephen Paulus
Three Madrigals by Emma Lou Diemer
In Memoriam TBD
We Can Grow by Trevor Tran
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