National Awards and Past Winners


Artist Teacher Award - Given annually to a pedagogue of renowned stature from within North America.
Matt Glaser, 2013
Paul Rolland (posthumous), 2012
Donald Weilerstein, 2011
Hans Jorgen Jensen, 2010
William Preucil, Sr., 2009
Alice Schoenfeld, 2008
Eleonore Schoenfeld (posthumous), 2008
Lynn Harrell, 2007
Helen Kwalwasser, 2006
Lawrence Hurst, 2005
Donald McInnes, 2004
Paul Katz, 2003
Heidi Castleman, 2002
Robert Mann, 2000
Fritz Magg (posthumous), 1998
Franco Gulli, 1997
Gary Karr, 1996
George Neikrug, 1995
Karen Tuttle, 1994
Nathan Gordon, 1993
Warren Benfield, 1992
Alice Chalifoux, 1991
Jascha Brodsky, 1990
Orlando Cole, 1990
Harvey Shapiro, 1989
Janos Starker, 1988
Zara Nelsova, 1987
Jascha Heifetz (emeritus), 1986
William Lincer, 1986
Efrem Zimbalist (emeritus), 1985
Leonard Sorkin, 1985
Eudice Shapiro, 1984
Aldo Parisot, 1983
Bernard Greenhouse, 1982
Roman Totenberg, 1981
Oscar Shumsky, 1980
Lillian Fuchs, 1979
Raya Garbousova, 1978
Paul Doktor, 1977
Rafael Bronstein, 1976
Dorothy DeLay, 1975
Yehudi Menuhin, 1974
David Walter, 1973
Gabor Rejto, 1972
Joseph Fuchs, 1971
William Primrose, 1970
Gregor Piatigorsky, 1969
Joseph Gingold, 1968
Samuel Applebaum, 1967
Ivan Galamian, 1966
Pablo Casals, 1965
Hans Letz, 1964
Isaac Stern, 1963
Hans Hess, 1962
Samuel Gardner, 1961
Louis Persinger, 1960
Joesph Szigeti, 1959

Arts Advocacy Award - Recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to promoting arts education.
John Benham, 2010
Joseph Bankoff, 2009
David E. Kelley, 2008
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, 2007

Arts Philanthropist of the Year Award - Recognizes an individual who has made significant financial contributions to arts education
Barry Manilow, 2010
Kay Logan, 2008
Sheila C. Johnson, 2007

Distinguished Service Award -Recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the profession. (Awarded periodically at the board's discretion)
Robert Culver, 2010
Victor Sazer, 2008
Richard D. Colburn (posthumous), 2005
Roland and Almita Vamos, 1997
Eleonore Schoenfeld, 1996
Felix Galimir, 1995
Louise Behrend, 1994
Abram Loft, 1993
Grant Beglarian, 1992
Robert Mann, 1991
Alexander Schneider, 1990
Henri Temianka, 1989
Milton Katims, 1988
Robert Klotman, 1987
Herbert Axelrod, 1986
Margaret Farish, 1985
Phyllis Young, 1984
Louis Krasner, 1983
Clifford Cook, 1982
John Celentano, 1981
T.J. Frederick Muller, 1980
John Kendall, 1979
Ralph Matesky, 1978
Margaret Rowell, 1977
Elizabeth A.H. Green, 1976
Marvin Rabin, 1975
George Bornoff, 1974
Paul Rolland, 1973
American Symphony
Orchestra League, 1972
Fine Arts Quartet ,1971
Merle Isaac, 1970
Heinrich Roth, 1969
National Federation of Music Clubs, 1968
Congress of Strings,
American Federation of Musicians, 1967
Bell Telephone Company, 1966
American Airlines, 1965
Joseph Maddy, 1964
Jack Benny, 1963

Merle J. Isaac Lifetime Achievement Award
Pamela Tellejohn Hayes, 1997
Jacquelyn Dillon-Krass, 1996
Dorothy A. Straub, 1995
Jerry N. Kupchynsky, 1994
Merle J. Isaac, 1993

Paul Rolland Lifetime Achievement Award - Awarded periodically at the boards discretion to a pedagogue of renowned stature who has made significant contributions to the profession throughout his/her career.
Marla Mutschler, 2009
Louise Behrend, 2007
Elsa Hilger Ezerman, 2005
John Kendall, 2003
Phyllis Young, 2002
Marvin Rabin, 2001
Jacquelyn Dillon-Kraus, 2000

Elizabeth A.H. Green School Educator Award - Given annually to a teacher with a distinguished current career in a school orchestral setting. Selected through a nomination process administered by the CSOS committee.
Candace Wiebener, 2011
Kathryn Hoffer, 2010
Steve Reed, 2009
Susan Ellington, 2008
Mary Lou Jones, 2007
Jan Garverick, 2006
Coral White, 2005
Leyla Sanyer, 2004
Jan Davis, 2003
Michael Alexander, 2002
Joanne Donnellan, 2001
Ida Steadman, 2000
Pamela Tellejohn Hayes, 1998
E. Daniel Long, 1997
Wayne Roederer, 1996
Ian Edlund, 1995
Linda Lydiard, 1994
William Dick, 1994
Bruce Fowler, 1993
Edward Ashton, 1992
Dale Kempter, 1991
Marilyn Kessler, 1990

Isaac Stern International Award - Awarded periodically at the board's discretion to an individual of renowned stature who has made significant contributions to the profession internationally.
Pepe Romero, 2010
Itzhak Perlman, 2008
François Rabbath, 2006
Janos Starker, 2005
Mstislav Rostropovich, 2002
Kato Havas, 1992
Henryk Szeryng (posthumous), 1989
Nathan Milstein, 1987
Ilona Feher, 1986
Edward Melkus, 1985
Nannie Jamieson, 1984
Max Rostal, 1984
Shinichi Suzuki, 1964

Traugott Rohner Leadership in the Music Industry Award - Awarded periodically at the board's discretion to a string industry leader whose identity is primarily within North America.

David Lusterman, Strings Magazine 2010
Dalton Potter, The Potter Violin Company, 2008
Charles Avsharian, Shar Products Company, 2006
Norman Pickering, J. D’Addario, 2003
Jim Strouse, Stanton’s Sheet Music, 2001

Traugott Rohner Service to NSOA Award
Edna L. Hansen 1997
Nancy Watling 1996
James H. Godfrey 1995

Marvin J. Rabin Community Service Award - Awarded periodically at the board's discretion to an individual or organization that makes significant contributions to their community (local, regional or professional categorical) through teaching and demonstrated leadership.
Robert Jesselson, 2009
Mary Drane West, 2006
Bonnie Greene, 2004
Roberta Guaspari, 2003

National String Project Award - Awarded annually by the ASTA National Board to an outstanding String Project site in the NSPC.
Wayne State University, 2011
Marywood University, 2010
The University of Wyoming, 2009
The University of Texas at Austin, 2008
Margaret Schmidt, Arizona State University, 2005

Outstanding Achievement in String Research - Awarded to a researcher whose work has contributed significantly to string education and performance in "recognition of significant, long-term scholarship in string music education."
Donald Hamann, 2011

Emergent String Researcher Award - Awarded to an early-career researcher whose scholarly work shows much promise in continued significant contributions to string education and performance. significantly

State Chapter and Student Chapter Awards - Recognizing outstanding performance of state and student chapters. See the State Chapter Awards section for more details.

Outstanding ASTA Chapter Award Winners
2011
Best Newsletter, Minnesota
Best Website, New Jersey
Membership Recruitment, Idaho and West Virginia
Most Improved Chapter, South Carolina
Most Outstanding Chapter, New Jersey
State Chapter Leader, Leslie Wester, New Jersey 

2010
Best Newsletter, Maryland/D.C.
Best Website, Texas
Membership Retention, North Dakota and Rhode Island
Most Improved, Maryland/D.C.
Most Outstanding Chapter, Michigan
State Chapter Leader, Cornelia Watkins, Texas

2009
Best Newsletter, Minnesota
Best Website, Michigan
Biggest Membership Increase, Georgia
Most Improved Chapter, Oklahoma
Most Outstanding Chapter, Texas
State Chapter Leader, Helen Fall, Virginia

2008
Best Newsletter, Virginia
Best Website, Tennessee
Membership Recruitment, New Mexico
Most Improved Chapter, Connecticut
Most Outstanding Chapter, Illinois
State Chapter Leader, Andrea Meyers, Colorado

2007
Best Newsletter, Minnesota
Best Website, Virginia
Membership Recruitment, New Mexico
Most Improved Chapter, New Mexico
Most Outstanding Chapter, New Jersey
State Chapter, Leader
Sharon Holmes (posthumous)

2006
Best Newsletter, New Jersey
Best Website, Colorado
Membership Recruitment, Kansas
Most Outstanding Chapter, Minnesota
Most Improved Chapters, Georgia and Oklahoma
State Chapter Leader, David Elder (posthumous)

2005
Best Newsletter, Minnesota
Best Website, Colorado
Membership Recruitment, Alabama
Most Outstanding Chapter, California
Most Improved Chapters, Alabama and Virginia
State Chapter Leader, Kathlene Goodrich

Outstanding Student Chapter Award
Western Michigan University, 2011
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009
University of South Carolina, 2008
University Montclair State University, 2007 
Pennsylvania State University, 2006
Michigan State University, 2005
Eastern Michigan University, 2003

Most Improved Student Chapter Award
Illinois State University, 2011


Citations for Leadership and Merit - Given to recognize the volunteer efforts of national board members at the end of their term of office and to other volunteers who make substantial contributions to the association and its programs.

2010
Judy W. Bossuat
Kathleen Brungard
Jan Davis
Susan DuBois
Ian Edlund
Michael Gagliardo
Beth Gilbert
Don Hamann
Raymond Harvey
iPalpiti
Ruth Kurtis
Kirk Moss
Deb Myers
Jane Palmquist
Anita Pisano
Quartet San Francisco
Jeffrey Solow
Mary Wagner
Benjamin Whitcomb
Mark Wood

2009
Darol Anger and the Republic of Strings
Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra
Zuill Bailey
Elizabeth Blakeslee
Matesky Family

2008
Albuquerque Youth Symphony
Richard Anshutz
Joshua Bell
Amy Fear-Bishop
Judy Bossuat
Lynne Denig
Jeremy Denk
Robert Gillespie
Donald Hamann
Joanne May
Denese Odegaard
Jung-Ho Pak
Shanghai Quartet
Lya Stern
Leslie Webster

2007
Connie Aiken
Renata Bratt
Michael Carrera
Marilyn Daggett
Michael Gagliardo
Robert Gardner
Midori Goto
Karen Higdon
Tanya Kalmonovitch
Martin Norgaard
James Palmer
Pam Phillips
Bonnie Rideout
Daryl Silberman
Tracy Silverman
David Smith
Kristin Turner
Matt Turner
Turtle Island String Quartet
David Wallace
Cornelia Watkins

2006
Stanley Chepaitis
Janet Farrar-Royce
David Littrell
Katharine Mason
Kirk Moss
Denese Odegaard
James Palmer
Bob Phillips
Vicki Richards
Daryl Silberman
Jeffrey Solow
Kristin Turner
Mary Wagner

2005
Geri Arnold
Karen Becker
Renata Bratt
Andrew Dabczynski
Gerald Doan
Robert Greenwood
Julie Lyonn Lieberman
Steve Muise
Bob Phillips
Daryl Silberman
Mary Wagner

2004
Lynne Aspnes
Renata Bratt
Andy Dabczynski
Gerald Klickstein
Julie Lyonn Lieberman
Kirk Moss
Martin Norgaard
Deborah Perkins
Bob Phillips
Mary Alice Rich-Wittrig
Louise Rossi
Jeffrey Solow
Edmung Sprunger
Carol Tarr
Leslie Webster
Leslie Wimsatt
Mimi Zweig

2003
Renata Bratt
Stanley Chepaitis
Andrew Dabczynski
Robert Gardner
Matt Glaser
Mary Lou Jones
Carol Liddle
Julie Lyonn Lieberman
Kirk Moss
Anne Sheldon
Mary Wagner
Shi-Hwa Wang
Leslie Webster

2002
Michael Alexander
Louis Bergonzi
Jeff Bradetich
Tanya Carey
Pamela Tellejohn Hayes
Judy Palac
Laura Reed
Carol Smith
Jeffrey Solow

2001
Michael Alexander
Michael Allen

2000
Edward Adelson
Robert Cowden
Doris Gadza
Lawrence Hurst
Mary Lou Jones
Dotty Kuhn
Laura Reed
Bill Ritchie
Lya Stern
Mary Wagner

1998
Susan Kempter
William Magers

1997
Evelyn Elsing
Margaret Motter
Mary Wagner

1996
Judy Evans
Robert Klotman
Anne Witt

1995
Dorothy A. Straub

1994
Edward Adelson
Jody Atwood
Robert Culver
Doris Gazda
Lawrence Hurst
Robert Klotman

1993
Ross Capshaw
Gordon Epperson

1992
Louise Behrend
Gerald Doan
Joe Kirschner
Jerry Cadek Lucktenberg
Kevin Miller
Irene Sharp

1991
Robert Hladky
Scott Schwab

1990
Ronda Cole
J. Kimball Harriman
Daniel Heifetz
Linda Lydiard
Anne Mischakoff
Margaret Pardee
Aaron Shearer
George Vance

1989
Fredell Lack
Harry Lantz
A. Clyde Roller
Shirley Trepel

1988
Gerald Fischbach
Richard Kapuscinski
David Walter
Anne Witt

1987
Carleen Hutchins
Milton Preves

1986
Margery Aber
Joachim Chassman
Abraham Chavez
Lucas Drew
Phyllis Dunn
Murray Grodner
Richard Maag

1985
James Ceasar
Cleveland Foundation
Coleman Chamber Society
Louis Kievman
Gene Morlan

1984
LeRoy Bauer
Warren Benfield
Marla Mutschler
Louis Potter
Marvin Rabin
William Starr
Francis Tursi
Oscar Zimmerman

1983
Nancy Cluck
Edward Krolick
Siegfried Palm

1982
Patrick Burrougs
Tanya Carey
Nannie Jamieson
John Kendall
Zenzo Matsumoto
Eduard Melkus
Elizabeth Morgan
Max Rostal
Phyllis Young

1981
Margaret Farish
Art Hill
Richard Maag
Raymond Stuhl
Larry Zgonc

1980
Neva Greenwood
Markwood Holmes
A. Kunrad Kvam

1979
Robert C. Marince
Mehli Mehta
Frederick Neumann

1978
Phillip Gordon
C. Paul Herfurth

1977
John Celentano
Mary Sexton
John Zurfluh, Sr.

1974
Vera Barstow
Joan Boney
G. Jean Smith
Priscilla Smith
Phyllis Young

1965
Marjorie Keller
Joseph Knitzer
Lucie Landen
Ralph Matesky
Gabor Rejto