For Immediate Release

Friday, June 8, 2018

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose Schools Orchestra Director Named Massachusetts Director of the Year 

MELROSE — Superintendent Cyndy S. Taymore and Director of Global Education Kimberly Talbot, are very excited to announce that Melrose Schools Orchestra Director Luke Miller has been named the state’s Orchestra Director of the Year.

After being anonymously nominated by another professional in the field — and fellow member of American String Teachers Association (ASTA) — the entire ASTA body voted Miller the best candidate for the 2018 Massachusetts Orchestra Director of the Year.

Miller was chosen for his outstanding leadership of the Melrose High, Middle, and Elementary school orchestras.

“We are so proud of Luke and all that he has achieved as Orchestra Director,”  Superintendent Taymore said. “He has a real gift for teaching, and his love of music inspires students to pursue their interests in different instruments.”

The award was presented at the final Massachusetts ASTA meeting of the year, which was held on Tuesday, June 5.

Miller directs Melrose Middle and High school orchestras. He also serves as one of the Elementary school string specialists, helping foster a love of organized ensemble music early on among students in the Melrose Public Schools. He is also actively involved with music education at the state level. He volunteers as a member on the executive board of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, Northeastern District. He is also currently the assistant festival coordinator for the MMEA-ND Senior District Festival. In the past, Miller has served as the Orchestra Manager for the MMEA-ND Junior District Festival, MMEA-ND Senior District Festival, as well as the Massachusetts All State Festival. For the past 5 years, he has been a guest conductor at the March String Fest, held in Billerica each spring. He is regularly collaborating with other music teachers from around the state, working to provide the best possible musical experience for our students.

Melrose Middle and High schools regularly compete at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association festival under Miller’s teaching. Many of his students have earned spots in the district orchestra. Some students also play in the Melrose Symphony Orchestra. Miller has most recently led the entire string program in Melrose through a two-year Composer in Residence project to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Melrose Symphony Orchestra.

Miller is a violinist and currently performs with the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, and on occasion, with other local community orchestras. Throughout the summer, he works as a faculty member at various music camps including the University of New Hampshire’s Summer Youth Music School, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Days in the Arts, and the String Music Festival at Endicott College. He is also a staff member of the New England Ambassadors of Music program.

Miller has been with the district since August, 2012 and is an invaluable member of the Melrose School community.

“Luke Miller is an inspired educator who fosters a love of music in our students from a very early age,” Talbot said. “We have seen, first-hand, the benefits of a strong investment in musical education and how it creates stronger, more invested students. The Melrose community is very lucky to have a treasure like Luke.”

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