Annual Awards
Award Applications
Contact Ricardo Pozenatto, [email protected], for more information or help with these forms.
- FSMTA Local Association of the Year Award
- FSMTA Excellence in Teaching Award
- FSMTA Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award
Contact Ricardo Pozenatto, [email protected], for more information or help with these forms.
2025 Local Association of the Year Award
Gainesville Music Teachers Association (GMTA)
Gainesville Music Teachers Association (GMTA)
Kelly Rooney, Mika Fujita, Rebecca Misha, Ruby Lee
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GMTA Executive Board Left to Right:
Kelly Rooney - Treasurer Mika Fujita - President Rebecca Misha - Second Vice President for Student Activities Ruby Lee - First Vice President for Monthly Programs Shiyi Zhu - Recording Secretary (pictured separately) Anne Falik - Second Vice President for Student Activities and District 3 President (pictured separately) Founded in 1950, the Gainesville Music Teachers Association (GMTA) has a long-standing tradition of excellence in music education and advocacy. As FSMTA District III’s sole local association and with over 100 dedicated members, GMTA continues to raise the bar for music education while fostering a connected and supportive community of educators. GMTA prioritizes strengthening connections between local music teachers and university-level music students to lay the groundwork for future leadership by hosting roundtables at the University of Florida School of Music where teachers, students and guest artists can engage in meaningful dialogue on mentorship, creativity and service. They are also committed to making continuous improvements to their key programs, focusing on community engagement, accessibility and operational efficiency. An example of this includes establishing a separate non-competitive Student Day event in another city so that students would not have to drive an hour to participate in this event in Gainesville. The board members also meet informally outside of official meetings in order to strengthen camaraderie and cultivate a more unified leadership team. These initiatives—and the continued openness to new ideas—reflect GMTA’s mission to advance music education and nurture the next generation of musical leaders. |
2025 Excellence in Teaching Award
Presented posthumously to Marie Hasse
Presented posthumously to Marie Hasse
Marie Hasse, FSCTM, was an inspirational teacher devoted both to educating the musicians of the future, and also to nurturing her students as developing individuals. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in her home state of Minnesota, she moved to Florida and received her master’s degree from Florida Technological University, which later became UCF. During this time she studied with Dr. Gary Wolf. Her own pedagogy and teaching techniques were heavily influenced by Dr. Wolf and his teacher, Cecile Genhart of Eastman School of Music. Another driving force behind her teaching ideology was the principles of Tobias Matthay. Marie believed that beginning students deserved the best teaching, as the foundation for pianistic greatness was laid in those opening years of lessons. She revised and edited Helen Parker Ford’s “From Fists to Fingers” as an early method to introduce students to the concepts of rotation, key weight, and relaxation. She was an active supporter of the American Matthay Association and frequently presented at Matthay festivals.
Marie was a 50-year member of MTNA, and she held a variety of offices (including president) at the state and local level. She was also a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, National Guild of Organists, SAI, and FFMC (where she held numerous positions and chaired local festivals and the state junior convention). Marie was also a board member for the Bach Festival of Central Florida and had the opportunity to perform across Europe with the organization. In addition, Marie frequently judged for FSMTA and FFMC events around the state.
Marie served her community faithfully for over 60 years. She served in local churches and maintained a home studio in addition to teaching at UCF and Polk State College. She taught numerous award-winning students who now teach in universities and perform around the nation. Her most enduring legacy is that she genuinely cared for her students and colleagues. She saw music as a reflection of life, and she used teaching piano as an avenue to teach about navigating life with all its ups and downs. She had a profound impact on so many, and her memory lives on in the hearts of those who were blessed to know her.
Marie was a 50-year member of MTNA, and she held a variety of offices (including president) at the state and local level. She was also a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, National Guild of Organists, SAI, and FFMC (where she held numerous positions and chaired local festivals and the state junior convention). Marie was also a board member for the Bach Festival of Central Florida and had the opportunity to perform across Europe with the organization. In addition, Marie frequently judged for FSMTA and FFMC events around the state.
Marie served her community faithfully for over 60 years. She served in local churches and maintained a home studio in addition to teaching at UCF and Polk State College. She taught numerous award-winning students who now teach in universities and perform around the nation. Her most enduring legacy is that she genuinely cared for her students and colleagues. She saw music as a reflection of life, and she used teaching piano as an avenue to teach about navigating life with all its ups and downs. She had a profound impact on so many, and her memory lives on in the hearts of those who were blessed to know her.
FSMTA Local Association of the Year Awards
2025 – Gainesville Music Teachers Association
2011 – Upper Pinellas Music Teachers Association
2007 – SW Florida Music Teachers Association
2006 – Upper Pinellas Music Teachers Association
2002 – Pensacola Music Teachers Association
2000 – Tallahassee Music Teachers Association
2011 – Upper Pinellas Music Teachers Association
2007 – SW Florida Music Teachers Association
2006 – Upper Pinellas Music Teachers Association
2002 – Pensacola Music Teachers Association
2000 – Tallahassee Music Teachers Association
FSMTA Excellence in Teaching Awards
2023 - Irena Kofman (Palm Beach County MTA)
2010 – Mary Lou Krosnick (Jacksonville MTA)
2008 – Helen Niedung (Southwest Florida MTA)
2006 – Evelyn Bliem (Southwest Florida MTA)
2005 – Deborah Ross (Pensacola MTA)
2003 – Leonard Mastrogiacomo (Tallahassee MTA)
2002 – Jean Frank Rose (Palm Beach County MTA)
2000 – Gary Wolf
1998 – Eleanor Wadsworth Morgan
1995 – Rita J. Hutcherson
1992 – Gray Perry (also Honorary Membership)
1992 – Robert Sherwood
1991 – Lucille Sellars (1st teacher to receive this award)
2010 – Mary Lou Krosnick (Jacksonville MTA)
2008 – Helen Niedung (Southwest Florida MTA)
2006 – Evelyn Bliem (Southwest Florida MTA)
2005 – Deborah Ross (Pensacola MTA)
2003 – Leonard Mastrogiacomo (Tallahassee MTA)
2002 – Jean Frank Rose (Palm Beach County MTA)
2000 – Gary Wolf
1998 – Eleanor Wadsworth Morgan
1995 – Rita J. Hutcherson
1992 – Gray Perry (also Honorary Membership)
1992 – Robert Sherwood
1991 – Lucille Sellars (1st teacher to receive this award)