If you’ve read my column at all over the years, the name Tobison has come up quite a lot. As you may know, Nancie Tobison just retired from an extremely successful tenure at choral director at Barrington High School. But, this column “takes the cake” for big news concerning Nancie’s long career as a music educator.
She has just been selected as one of the top 10 finalists from more than 7,000 nominees from all 50 states for a Grammy Award! As a Music Educator Award finalist, Nancie will receive a $1,000 honorarium and has the chance to be named the “one local hero” on Feb. 8, 2015, at the 57th annual Grammy awards on CBS.
For only the second year, the Grammy Foundation states that it will “recognize a music educator who has ‘made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrates a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.'” That “hero” will also be awarded a $10,000 honorarium.
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The other nine nominees hail from California, North and South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Louisiana, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
2002 alum Brian Kubiak wrote: “This is really inspiring. My high school choir director is a finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award. Nancie Kozel Tobison made such a huge impact in my life, from piano lessons in grade school all the way through choir my senior year. She is more deserving of this award than I could ever describe.” Now an attorney, Kubiak sang throughout his college years.
Lori Rowe, mother of pop singer and BHS graduate, Hailey Rowe, said: “When Hailey was in the T-Mobile commercial being directed by a Hollywood (“Glee”) director, she came out of the rehearsal shaking her head and saying ‘They need Mrs. Tobison! She could organize and get great sound out of 100 plus girls in a heartbeat!'”
Ashli Hessel, 2008 BHS graduate, had this to say: “Whether it was competing internationally or simply performing at local holiday parties, the choral program gave us all the experiences of a lifetime.”
The weekend the Grammy selection was announced, Nancie also enjoyed the honor and adventure of taking her Barrington Village Singers to perform at the White House and various feted D.C. venues! (I wish I could have sung with you, Nancie!) Not bad for a “retiree!”
Congratulations, Nancie and best wishes in February!
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