The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) annually recognizes high school band, choral/orchestral directors, supervisors and adjudicators whose overall contributions have impacted high school activity programs. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce that Carbondale High School Band Director Greg Townsend has been recognized among the award winners for the 2011-12 school year.
Townsend and the Carbondale High School band had been selected to play at the Saturday (February 25) sessions of the 2012 IHSA Class 1A/2A Girls Basketball State Finals earlier this school year, while the IHSA found out about Townsend’s award on Wednesday (February 22). IHSA Assistant Executive Director and Music Administrator Susie Knoblauch surprised Townsend with an awards presentation at halftime of the Class 1A Third-Place game at Redbird Arena in Normal on Saturday.
“I am really excited, it comes along with having great students,” Townsend told IHSA TV’s Matt Rodewald during a halftime interview. “We have a lot of different activities going on during the year, from marching band to pep band. We have also played three IHSA state finals, so we are constantly busy, but we do it because we love it.”
The NFHS began its annual music educator awards in 1989 and has since gone on to honor 127 sectional and 223 state awards winners. Added to those totals for this past school year are five sectional awards and eight state awards. Nominees must exemplify the highest standards of ethical conduct, carry the endorsement of their respective state high school association and have made significant and long-term contributions to interscholastic high school music activities in their years of service.
“We are incredibly proud to have Greg Townsend represent Illinois, the IHSA and Carbondale,” said Knoblauch. “In his years of service, both curricular and co-curricular, he has been directly responsible for the organization and continuance of outstanding music programs, significant and ongoing contributions to the field of music and contributions to the profession both locally and statewide.”