Dylan Albright
Director of Bands
Everett Area Middle School and High School
Everett Area School District
BRAVO! Champions of Music Education
In this ever-changing climate, music education can be a powerful tool for building community, encouraging self-expression, and fostering resilience. This season, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will recognize champions in music education who provide high quality music learning opportunities and broad access to students throughout the region. This includes the essential behind-the-scenes advocates who create school schedules, safe spaces, creative environments, and seamless logistics that enable students to flourish.
This new program, BRAVO! Champions for Music Education, will turn the spotlight on individuals in various roles who work to promote music learning in school-based music programs for PreK through 12th grade students.
Please join us in celebrating this year’s Champions of Music Education!
2026-27 Honorees
Varden Armstrong
Marching Band Director / Performing Arts Coordinator
Seneca Valley School District
Janice Barthen
Music Teacher
Moon Area Middle School
Moon Area School District
Nick Barthen
Music Teacher
Moon Area High School
Moon Area School District
Katie Black
Orchestra Director
Butler Area School District
Karen Bottegal
Music Teacher
Pittsburgh Montessori PreK-5
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Eryn Carranza
Band Director
South Fayette School District
Jason Cheskawich
Music Educator
Mellon Middle School
Mt. Lebanon School District
Mairi Cooper
Orchestra Director
Fox Chapel Area High School
Fox Chapel Area School District
Sean Desguin
Elementary Band Director
Central, Poff, and Wyland Elementary Schools
Hampton Township School District
Rebecca Dougan
General Music Teacher
PPS Dilworth K-5
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Gretchen Eckroat
Music Teacher
Pittsburgh Concord
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Mariann Fox
Elementary Vocal Music Teacher
Markham & Foster Elementary Schools
Mt. Lebanon School District
Deanna Grandstaff
Band Director
Cecil Intermediate School
Canon-McMillan School District
Benjamin Henigin
Director of Music K-12
Shade Central City School District
Chad Himmler
High School Band Director
Hampton High School
Hampton Township School District
Jennifer Kist
Orchestra Director (6-12)
Altoona Area School District
Tom Koharchik
Choir Director
Freeport Area Middle School and High School
Freeport Area School District
Len Lavelle
High School Band Director
North Hills High School
North Hills School District
Sarah Lavelle
Orchestra Teacher
North Allegheny Senior High School
North Allegheny School District
Marissa McFarren
Band Director
Brownsville Area Schools
Brownsville Area School District
Keegan McLean
Director of Bands
Redbank Valley Intermediate and High School
Redbank Valley School District
Katie Miller
Music Teacher
Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy
Woodland Hills School District
Kirsty Ochs
Elementary General Music and Choral Teacher
Greenock Elementary and Central Elementary Schools
Elizabeth Forward School District
Michael Pagnotta
Director of Bands
Huston Middle School & Burrell High School
Burrell School District
Sarah Persin
High School and Elementary Orchestra Director
McKeesport Area HS, Francis McClure Elementary, Twin Rivers Elementary
McKeesport Area School District
Douglas Reichenfeld
Orchestra Director
Mt. Lebanon High School
Mt. Lebanon School District
Caroline Russell
Orchestra Director
Dutch Ridge Elementary, Beaver Area MS, Beaver Area HS
Beaver Area School District
Larry Sarvey
Band Teacher
North Bedford County High School
Northern Bedford County School District
Rebecca Sensor
Music Educator
Dubois Area School District
Christopher Snyder
Director of Bands
Deer Lakes School District
Aaron Taylor
Marching Band Director
Perry Traditional Academy 9-12
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Chad Thompson
Director of Bands
Bethel Park High School
Bethel Park School District
Chad Toporski
Music Teacher
Quaker Valley Middle School
Quaker Valley School District
Nina Unitas
Senior Program Officer, Arts Education
Office of Curriculum & Instruction
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Shawn van Mastrigt
General Music/Musical Theater Director
Turner Intermediate School
Wilkinsburg School District
2025-26 Honorees
Lucas Beaver
Band Director, North Hills School District
Lucas Beaver is a passionate educator dedicated to supporting and uplifting his students within and beyond the music classroom at North Hills High School. He firmly believes in establishing a culture of learning, responsibility, and both musical and personal growth in the band program and works closely with his orchestra and chorus colleagues along with the counselors, administrators, and faculty for the benefit of all involved. In addition to his position at North Hills, Lucas is the President of District 1 of the Pennsylvania Music Educators’ Association, advocating for quality music education and organizing inspirational music experiences for students across five counties.
Jesse Bush
Music Teacher, Serra Catholic High School
Jesse Bush is the high school music teacher at Serra Catholic High School. There, he directs the band, marching band, and the spring musical. Jesse takes on the challenge of giving every student in his music program — particularly the marching band program — a fantastic experience. He takes the marching band to perform at competitions and makes sure they are able to travel and have similar experiences as students in other, larger, marching bands. It’s clear to anyone who watches his students perform that they are enjoying their time in Jesse’s ensembles.
Marylou Monich Bushyager
Music Specialist, Pittsburgh Allegheny PreK-5, Pittsburgh King PreK-8, Pittsburgh Langley PreK-8, Pittsburgh Westwood PreK-5, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Marylou has been working as a music educator in the Pittsburgh Public Schools since January of 2004. She is a graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (Saxophone) and a Master of Education in Special Education from Carlow University. She has taught high school choir, jazz ensemble, marching band, Middle School and Elementary instrumental music, modern band, and special music education. Her students have collaborated with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Craftsman’s Guild, Pittsburgh Opera, Carnegie Mellon University, Urban Impact Foundation, PMEA, and performed at many community events throughout Pittsburgh. Her instrument group received a Superior rating at the High Note Music Festival at Duquesne University and recorded a music video with the Urban Music Education Project. Her philosophy is that music helps us grow in kindness, compassion, love, education, and helps us learn to thrive together in peace and harmony.
Robert Carr
Band Director, Woodland Hills High School
“In addition to serving as the daytime Band Director at Woodland Hills, I also direct our Marching Band, our Junior Musical, Assistant Direct our Spring Musical, and serve as a Performing Arts Workshop Instructor. I am extremely proud to teach at my alma mater and am thrilled to be able to help my wonderful students gain meaningful music experiences! They amaze me every day!”
Tina L. Esu
Music Specialist, Pittsburgh Faison, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Tina Esu is a Music Specialist at Pittsburgh Faison who has been working at Pittsburgh Public Schools since 1998. She goes above and beyond to help her students learn music in ways that truly resonate with them — using rhythm, the music they listen to at home, and connections with community partners to inspire learning and performance. Her collaborations with ChaRon Don have gone viral, showcasing original works that amplify student voices and celebrate their creativity. Whether her students are composing, performing, or diving into music literacy, Tina creates a space where they are engaged, confident, and thriving.
Sarah Giliberto
Music Educator, Pittsburgh Brookline PreK-8, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Sarah Giliberto has been teaching in the Pittsburgh Public Schools since February 2005. After spending 16 years teaching instrumental and vocal music at Carrick High School, she made a big career shift and moved to Brookline PreK-8 to instill a love of music in younger students. One of her favorite things to do is take her students to the Schooltime concerts at the PSO, especially when it’s their first trip to Heinz Hall. “I love how their little faces light up when they see the elegance of the hall and hear the beauty of the music. It makes everything worthwhile.” She is also only one of two music educators in her district with a National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification.
Stephanie Glover
Orchestra Director, Bethel Park High School, Bethel Park School District
Stephanie Glover is the orchestra director at Bethel Park High School. A tireless advocate for music education, she believes in nurturing lifelong musicians, and her students share her passion for playing and for the art form. Outside of her work at Bethel Park, where she has grown the orchestral program to a high level, she works extensively with students through TRYPO and PMEA, ensuring that young musicians can participate in high-quality and engaging ensembles.
Brian Lee
Music Director, Allderdice High School, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Brian Lee is the Music Director at Allderdice High School, where he leads vibrant ensembles who perform at marching festivals, PMEA events, and in the community. Beyond his instrumental work, Brian teaches one of the few AP Music Theory courses in the area along with choir and general music. He also regularly leads the pit orchestra in school musicals and accompanies his studies in cabaret performances. He is a powerful, witty, skilled musician and leader — we are lucky to have him work with our young people!
Dr. Kim Prentice
Coordinator, Performing Arts at the Pittsburgh Public Schools Office of Curriculum & Instruction
Dr. Kim Prentice serves as the Coordinator of Performing Arts for Pittsburgh Public Schools, supporting joyful, child-centered music learning across the city and advocating for equitable access to quality music education. Outside of the classroom, Kim enjoys competing in triathlon and traveling with family.
Jeanne Tupper
Orchestra Director & Music Teacher Grades 6–8, South Fayette Middle School, South Fayette Township School District
Jeanne Tupper is the Orchestra Director and Music Teacher at South Fayette Middle School. Since she started at South Fayette, she has grown their strings program by leaps and bounds. She teaches with sound pedagogical strategies and her students demonstrate consistent growth and improvement. She also volunteers her time to be the orchestra content representative to ensure consistency within the PMEA Orchestra festival system. In this role, she also sits on the statewide Student Performance Events Council.
Ronnie Ziccardi
Band Director, Avonworth School District
Ronnie’s teaching responsibilities at Avonworth include 3rd Grade General Music, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th/8th Grade Bands, Marching Band Assistant Director and Percussion Instructor, Middle School Jazz Band Director, and Director of the Musical Pit Orchestra. During his current 9-year tenure, the Avonworth elementary band program has expanded by about 6 times the number of involved students. The 6th-grade band participated in the PMEA Music Performance Assessment in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and has been awarded Superior Ratings (the highest rating possible) in all 3 performances.