Steven Cocchiola, orchestra director at the Brecksville-Broadview high school, has claimed the first Akron Symphony Music Educator of the Year Award. A versatile leader, Cocchiola conducts the school’s Concert Orchestra, String Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and 7th & 8th grade orchestras beside his directorial duties and music theory classes. He is also on the artistic staff of the Summit Choral Society.
After hearing the news, Cocchiola said, “When I was informed that I was the recipient of the award and this was the inaugural year, I was left speechless. It is always nice to be recognized for your efforts, but when I heard the amount of work that was put into this, and the number of people who took the time out of their lives to write a letter on my behalf, it was humbling.”
The award ceremony will take place on November 18, 2017 at an Akron symphony performance of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition on November 18 at E.J Thomas Hall. Additionally, a $500 prize sponsored by the Fairlawn School of Music will be given to the Brecksville-Broadway High School music program in Cocchiola’s name.
Akron Symphony has also released its first ever mobile app. Available for download at Apple’s App Store for IOS devices, as well as at the Google Play Store for Android devices, the free app will allow users to see news of upcoming concerts and events, connect via social media, and watch videos. The app is powered by InstantEncore. — Hanna Schoepe