Each year, our student-nominated Music Inspiration Award honors a school band/orchestra director or private teacher who inspires and encourages their students. This year’s award is presented to Glenbard East High School’s Timothy Fawkes, nominated by Accelerando Strings’ Danielle Diaz.
Below is an excerpt from Danielle’s nominating essay:
Mr. Fawkes saw something in me and I am truly grateful for that. He saw my drive and love for music. He continues to challenge me…He is a great leader and educator and is one of the main reasons that I have decided to become a music major in college. Without his guidance and support, I wouldn’t be the musician I am today.
Timothy Fawkes teaches music at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, IL, where his responsibilities include three levels of orchestra, two levels of guitar, and several co-curricular ensembles and clubs. Under Tim’s direction, the Glenbard East orchestras have collaborated with numerous colleges and professional artists and have presented two performances at the Illinois Music Education Conference. He is also music director of the orchestra at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Tim’s teaching career has spanned several states, grade levels, and content areas. He was assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and an instrumental/general music teacher in the Philadelphia public schools. He has taught courses at the University of Texas and presented at colleges including The Ohio State University and the University of South Carolina. He began his career at Lake Zurich (Illinois) High School.
A passionate advocate for expanding access to the arts, Tim has managed education and community engagement programs for the Philadelphia Orchestra and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. He has been the music director of the University of Texas Opera Society and has conducted the Dallas Wind Symphony. In addition to his work on cello and guitar, Tim plays trumpet in the band Midnight Hour, which pays tribute to Memphis soul music of the 1960s. Tim is also currently president of the Illinois unit of the American String Teachers Association (IL ASTA). He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a M.M. in conducting, and Northwestern university, with a B.M. in Music Education.
