The Faculty Service Award was first given in 1990 to recognize the contributions of outstanding faculty members to the work of the Hochstein School. Nominations are solicited from the entire faculty, from a list of those who have completed at least five years of teaching at Hochstein. Hochstein presented the 2021 Faculty Service Award to Matt Osika as a faculty member whose dedicated work at Hochstein deserves special recognition.
Announcing the 2021 Faculty Service Awards at the All-Faculty Meeting on September 7, Hochstein President & Executive Director Margaret Quackenbush said:
"Matt has served as Assistant Director of the Hochstein Philharmonia Orchestra since 2009 (and also for a number of years in the same role with Hochstein Sinfonia Orchestra), where he has done everything from providing coaching and conducting support at rehearsals, occasionally subbing for the Director, running sectionals for wind players. He created and implemented the wonderful Young Composers’ Collaboration Project – inviting orchestra members to create their own musical themes and motives which he then weaves into a full orchestra composition, performed at the spring concert. If you haven’t ever heard one of Matt’s masterpieces, I urge you to come to the Philharmonia concert next spring! Matt has done an incredible amount of behind-the-scenes work to support both communication and learning outside of rehearsals – ranging from instructional videos, providing links for listening, and periodic newsletters.
"Throughout the pandemic, Matt provided technical support in the planning and execution of recorded auditions for all 4 Hochstein student orchestras. In the fall of 2020, he created an 8-week online course for wind musicians from both Philharmonia and HYSO, since they could not participate in person. In the spring, he led the creation of an 8-week in-person ensemble experience for groups of woodwind, brass, and percussion players – including everything from choosing repertoire to determine the proper PPE for the students, conducting rehearsals and concerts for both Woodwinds and Brass ensembles.
"Matt put his technical chops to further use in adapting the orchestral application process to a completely online Google format, creating several Google surveys for orchestral and wind symphony participants, and presenting a 2-hour Google training class for faculty and staff in July.
"Beyond all this, Matt is now the President of the Monroe County School Music Association, and has already begun to share the MCSMA newsletter with both Hochstein and ECMS – to promote collaboration among all Monroe County music educators, both public and private – and, as the colleague who wrote the nomination for Matt has said, 'recognizing that we all share in the mission of arts education.'
"Matt, you’ve contributed greatly and shown incredible leadership throughout your time at Hochstein, for which we all are truly grateful. I’m thrilled to recognize you with the Faculty Service Award."
Congratulations!