More News & Notes 
Lisa A. (Bronstein) Brumberger: Instrumental Music – Band Award
Scribner Road Elementary, Penfield
Penfield native and clarinetist Lisa (Bronstein) Brumberger earned a bachelor of music degree in music education/performance honors from Syracuse University where she received the Alta P. Crouse and Harwood Simmons Music Awards and was President of Sigma Alpha Iota. Ms. Brumberger earned a master of music from the Eastman School of Music where she played clarinet in the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Her 23 years as a music educator has included all levels of instrumental and classroom music, department coordinator for the East Irondequoit Schools and director of a band program at Brighton’s Hillel School. Ms. Brumberger currently teaches instrumental and classroom music at Scribner Road Elementary School in Penfield. She is actively involved with the “Arts-In-Education” program, coordinating and integrating artist residencies and performances into classroom settings. Ms. Brumberger has run improvisational jazz groups, conducted district Band Extravaganzas, prepared students for NYSSMA festivals, served on district/school committees and is active as Elections Chair for the Penfield Education Association. Her current and past students have been members of the Hochstein Youth Orchestra, RPYO and All-County/ State/Conference ensembles. Ms. Brumberger is principal clarinetist of the Perinton Concert Band and first clarinetist with the Hochstein Music Educators’ Wind Band.
Cindy L. Baldwin: Instrumental Music – Strings Award
John Kennedy Elementary, Robert Morris School – Batavia
Cindy Baldwin’s early years of violin and viola lessons in Binghamton, NY began her love of music, later adding clarinet and saxophone in high school, which cemented her career path in public school music education.
Ms. Baldwin received her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Binghamton, her master of music education from Ithaca College and eventually a CAS in educational administration from SUNY Brockport. Her teaching career began with a temporary position with the Union-Endicott Marching Tigers High School Band. The following year, she took another temporary position in the same district in the string department. A similar pattern followed in Binghamton and Skaneateles where an opportunity to work with Muriel Bodley and the Suzuki philosophy turned her future once again.
Completing her 30th year in education, Ms. Baldwin has spent the last 24 years with the Batavia City School District – the only one in Genesee County to offer a string program to public school students. She is currently the Music Department Chairperson and Director of the Elementary Suzuki String Program, teaching more than 100 individual Suzuki lessons each week and directing beginning and advanced elementary string orchestras. Ms. Baldwin is a NYSSMA certified adjudicator and is currently the immediate past president for NYSCAME (New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education).
Brenda Nitsch: Choral Music Award
Webster Thomas High School
At Webster Thomas High School, Brenda Nitsch conducts the choirs and vocal ensembles, directs the musical and serves as music department Lead Teacher, embracing a passion for the learning process, self-discovery and building community. She co-coordinates the MCSMA All-County Festival SATB Choir, directs an annual summer creative arts camp and is a member of the Leadership Team at the Baptist Temple. Ms. Nitsch also contributes as guest clinician/presenter at area college workshops and NYSSMA Conventions. She annually prepares her students for Area All-State, Monroe All-County, and NYSSMA Solo Festivals, often having several of them singing at Conference and All-Eastern Conventions. Ms. Nitsch holds a bachelor of music degree from Marywood University, a master of science in music education from Mansfield University and a master of music in vocal performance from the Eastman School of Music.
Sonya J. Zingo: Classroom Music Specialist Award
Iroquois School – West Irondequoit
Sonya J. Zingo has been teaching in the West Irondequoit School District since 1985. During her teaching career, she has taught all levels of instruction from the first grade classroom to sixth grade instrumental lessons, and band programs to the senior high school chorus. Her principal home throughout the years has been Iroquois School in West Irondequoit, where she currently teaches both classroom and choral music to her fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. Mrs. Zingo encourages her students to create new musical compositions through the use of traditional techniques and computer technology. She has co-chaired the Elementary All-County Choral Festival, accompanied at both MCSMA and NYSSMA festivals, is an active member of the West Irondequoit Teachers’ Association and the recipient of its Sandra Baxter Service Award. Mrs. Zingo received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Eastman School of Music.
Maryellen Giese: Special Award
Maryellen Giese currently conducts the Hochstein Youth Singers (grades 3-12), the Hochstein Singers (grades 7-12) and Hochstein (Adult) Chorale. She also directs Youth Choirs and the Handbell Choir at First Presbyterian Church in Brockport and the “Sweden Senior Singers” (Senior Citizen Chorus) in Brockport. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Education Department at Nazareth College and a singer and a board member of the Rochester Oratorio Society. Ms. Giese received her undergraduate degree in music education from Nazareth College. She is retired from 31 years at Brockport Central School District where she served as a vocal music teacher, directing choirs and vocal ensembles at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. She also served as Chair of the Brockport music department. She has multiple listings in “Who’s Who Among American Educators.” A member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Ms. Giese also is Past Officer of the Monroe County School Music Association (MCSMA), the Rochester Area Council of Administrators of Music Education (RACAME) and the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME). She is a regular guest choral conductor throughout New York State. Ms. Giese lives in Morton with her husband Jay, who is retired from teaching instrumental music in Kendall. They are the proud parents of two grown sons, Drew and Adam.