Dallas Symphony Orchestra announces Music Teacher of the Year award winner Christian Ferreira
Annual Award Recognizes Elementary Music Teachers in DISD
Christian Ferreira from Cuellar Elementary to receive $500 Cash Award,
Underwritten by Rita Sue & Alan Gold
Dallas, TX (March 3, 2021) – The Dallas Symphony Orchestra announces the winner of its annual Music Teacher of the Year Award. Christian Ferreira of Cuellar Elementary was chosen from nominees across the Dallas Independent School District.
The Music Teacher of the Year Award coincides with Music in Our Schools Month, a nation-wide campaign focused on the importance of high-quality music education in public schools.
“This past year has been difficult for elementary age children throughout Dallas, with new and unprecedented obstacles no educator can prepare for,” said DSO Thomas and Roberta Corbett Director of Education Jennifer Guzmán. “However, we have watched as music educators throughout the district have continuously gone above and beyond, providing amazing learning opportunities for all their students despite the challenges. The DSO is excited to recognize one of the many amazing music educators from DISD and honored that we can applaud this achievement.”
Christian David Ferreira Gutierrez is from Bucaramanga, Colombia, living in between Colombia, Mexico and the United States throughout his childhood. He attended the University of North Texas where he completed a Bachelors of Music in Music Theory and a Bachelor of Arts in French. After graduating from college, he worked as a French tutor, private lesson instructor, freelance musician and sound technician. His interest in music education grew as he had the opportunity to teach and inspire more students through piano and guitar. His parents instilled a passion for both music, education and most importantly, the desire to help others succeed. He decided to step into the world of music education after realizing he could have a broader impact. Ferreira believes the experiences that a child has during his/her elementary years are crucial to their development and that music can be a powerful tool. His students have helped him to grow these first three years as an educator, and he looks forward to continuing this journey.
Nominations were submitted to the DSO with an application and video teaching samples. Christian Ferreira was selected from a group of four finalists. The other three finalists were:
- Janet Behning, Obadiah Knight Elementary
- Rene Schmidt, Dealey Montessori
- Michelle Vallejo, Mata Elementary
The finalists and the winner were chosen by the DSO’s Education Committee, which is comprised of members of the Dallas Symphony Association’s Board of Governors, DSO League members, DSO musicians as well as members of the community at large.
Christian Ferreira will be presented with a plaque and recognized at future concert this season, at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Ferreira will also receive a $500 cash award, underwritten by Rita Sue and Alan Gold.
About the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Designate Fabio Luisi, presents the finest in orchestral music at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, regarded as one of the world’s premier concert halls. As the largest performing arts organization in the Southwest, the DSO is committed to inspiring the broadest possible audience with distinctive classical programs, inventive pops concerts and innovative multi-media presentations. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the orchestra reaches more than 240,000 adults and children through performances, educational programs and community outreach initiatives annually. The DSO’s involvement with the City of Dallas and the surrounding region includes an award-winning multi-faceted educational program, community projects, popular parks concerts and youth programming.
The DSO has a tradition dating back to 1900 and is a cornerstone of the unique, 115-acre Arts District in Downtown Dallas that is home to multiple performing arts venues, museums and parks; the largest district of its kind in the nation. The DSO is supported, in part, by funds from the Office of Cultural Affairs, City of Dallas.
Media Contacts
Denise McGovern, d.mcgovern@dalsym.com, 214.871.4024
Kristen Turner, k.turner@dalsym.com, 214.871.4063