SFJH Orchestra Teacher Angela Harman Awarded Best of State

Submitted by david.thacker on
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Our very own Angela Harmon has been awarded the prestigious Best of State Award under the category of Music Education.

According to the Best of State’s website (https://www.bestofstate.org ), individuals, businesses, and organizations under consideration for the award “excel in their endeavors, use innovative approaches or methods, [and] contribute to a better quality of life in Utah.” 

The website goes on to state:  “Best of State candidates demonstrate achievement and excellence in their fields of endeavor, producing superior results and outcomes. … Best of State candidates differentiate themselves in positive ways from others within their field through innovation or creativity in approaches, techniques, methods, or processes. … Best of State candidates make Utah a better place.”

It’s obvious that Mr. Harman meets these criteria. She’s helped the orchestra program grow by over 440% since 2012.  Under her direction, the Spanish Fork Junior High school orchestra has excelled at festivals.  Her Advanced orchestra was been selected to perform at the State orchestra festival in 2016 and 2017.  Each of her groups consistently receives Superior ratings.

Mrs. Harman is passionate about music education and is the founder of www.orchestraclassroom.com , where she posts ideas and methods that she uses in her classroom.   Her blog is well known in the string teacher world and many find inspiration in her articles.  Her recent popular books, “Be An Amazing Note-Reader” and “The True Beginning: Before the Method Book” are just a few of her creations offered through her website to countless teachers and orchestra programs worldwide.

Mrs. Harman frequently seeks out special opportunities for her students.  In 2015, her program was selected for ‘The World We All Deserve Through Music’ where renowned ‘Time for Three’ bassist, Ranaan Meyer composed a piece for the Spanish Fork Orchestra and visited in person to do a workshop with students.   The Spanish Fork Junior High orchestra won the Give A Note Foundation/Radio Disney ‘Music In Our Schools’ tour in 2016 which included an Ardy and a grant.  Representatives from the Disney Channel visited Angela’s classroom and filmed a 1 minute commercial promoting music education which aired on the Disney channel in the summer of 2016.

Spanish Fork Junior High is proud of Mrs. Harman’s accomplishments and grateful she shares her talents with students.  She is truly a Lobo Hero!

Attributions
by Rillene Nielsen and Angela Harman