https://www.midweeknews.com/2020/03/04/dekalb-music-boosters-names-2020-hall-of-fame-inductees/a8je4wp/?fbclid=IwAR3pYoxvks_3u8ygXWHalFqlilxswIzKCZ2pEdDvA2GwYbnrw7IkStPusxs

The DeKalb Music Boosters’ Hall of Fame Committee announced today the names of four nominees who will be inducted to the DeKalb School District 428 Music Hall of Fame. Nancy and Larry Apperson, Melissa Dye, and the late Arthur D. Montzka will be honored for their work in music as volunteers, performers and educators. 

The honorees will be recognized at the Hats, Horses, and Harmony fundraiser for DeKalb Music Boosters on Friday, May 1, at the River Heights Golf Course clubhouse; the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature simulated horse races, musical performances, derby-themed hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, a silent auction and prizes.

Nancy and Larry Apperson will be receiving the Muse Award, which honors outstanding music advocates who have made a significant impact in developing and fostering the growth of DeKalb School District music programs. 

The Appersons helped found the DeKalb Music Boosters and were instrumental in advocating for improved middle and high school music curriculum and spearheaded many fundraising efforts for uniforms, equipment and music trips.

Melissa Dye will be the first recipient of the Virtuoso Award. This award recognizes a former DeKalb High School musician who has gone on to have a distinguished career.

Dye, a 1984 graduate of DeKalb High School, graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in vocal performance. She went on to perform on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of “Into the Woods” and as Sandy in the revival of “Grease.” She has also spent years performing in Toronto, and Chicago where she was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award, which is  given for theatre arts produced in the Chicago area.

The DeKalb Music Boosters will honor Arthur Dale Montzka posthumously with the Maestro Award. The award is presented to a retired music educator who has made a significant impact and helped to develop and foster the growth of music programs within DeKalb’s middle or high school music community. 

Montzka was a graduate of George Washington University, Oberlin Conservatory, and the Eastman School of Music. He taught orchestra for 35 years and was the founder and conductor of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra for 23 years. As a teacher, he traveled to schools throughout the the DeKalb school district to teach students string instruments. Montzka was one of this country’s early pioneers of the Suzuki Method approach to learning music. Montzka was a board member as well as a lifetime member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA).  

Tickets to Hats, Horses, and Harmony are $35.00 per person. To purchase tickets online, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dekalb-music-boosters-4th-annual-hats-horses-and-harmony-derby-night-tickets-95996621479.

Link to nomination forms:

DeKalb Music Hall of Fame Muse Nomination

DeKalb Music Hall of Fame Maestro Nomination

DeKalb Music Hall of Fame Virtuoso Nomination

Read the article in the Daily Chronicle for more information:

https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2019/12/17/dekalb-music-boosters-seek-nominations-for-hall-of-fame/adnsr9n/

DHS Choir Director Travis Erikson is pleased to finally outfit his singers in beautiful new choir robes, designed and detailed for a one-of-a-kind look, exclusive to the DeKalb High School Choir Program.

DeKalb Music Boosters helped subsidize the purchase which was largely funded through grants.

Thank you everyone who attended, sponsored, donated and otherwise supported this year’s 3rd Annual Hats, Horses and Harmony fundraiser. We yet again exceeded the amount we hoped to raise, and we could not have done that without all of you!!!! What a fun night was had! We hope to see everyone again next year!!

We are proud to announce we have named Ann Montzka Smelser and Judy O’Connor to the district’s Music Hall of Fame. They will be recognized at the Hats, Horses and Harmony fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. on May 3rd at River Heights Golf Course clubhouse.

Ann Montzka Smelser will receive the Muse Award for work as an outstanding music advocate who has had significant influence in developing and fostering the growth of music programs, according to the release. She’s worked in the music community for more than 30 years and is the director of the Community School of Arts Suzuki Strings program.

Receiving the inaugural Maestro Award, Judy O’Connor will be honored as a retired music teacher who has had a significant effect in developing and fostering the growth of DeKalb middle school or high school music programs.

https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2019/03/19/dekalb-music-boosters-announce-hall-of-fame-inductees-ann-montzka-smelser-judy-oconnor/a4d7no5/?fbclid=IwAR26M0FM54RpA8E8jRB03M-4s57oC2xHf54LrjSRlnjhT1y44JKWJovq_pQ

Valentine’s Day is February 14th and many of you may be starting to shop for gifts. Be sure to shop at smile.amazon.com and choose Dekalb Music Boosters as your charity. This is a great opportunity to allow a portion of your purchase on Amazon Smile to be donated to the Dekalb Music Boosters. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service, but Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Dekalb Music Boosters!