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Academy Awards

The Tennessee Arts Academy honors individuals and organizations each year in a variety of categories during the Bravo Awards Banquet and Performance and during the TAA Finale luncheon. Current and previous award winners are listed below, as well as descriptions of each award category.

2025 Tennessee Arts Academy Award Recipients
Victoria Clark
TAA Distinguished Service Award
Bravo Awards Banquet and Performance
MTSU Student Union Grand Ballroom
6:30 pm
 - 
July 16, 2025

Victoria Clark maintains a wonderfully diverse career as an award-winning actor, director, and educator. Clark began voice and piano lessons at the age of six. She was blessed with extraordinary educational opportunities, along with generous teachers and mentors throughout her early years. Clark graduated from Yale University and attended New York University’s prestigious Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program as a stage director (“Cycle 1” cohort).

The original production of Sunday in the Park with George was the beginning of Clark’s journey as a professional actor, which has led to thirteen Broadway and numerous off-Broadway plays, musicals, film, and television appearances. Highlights include The Light in the Piazza on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater for which she was awarded the Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical, as well as Tony-nominated starring roles in the original casts of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, SisterAct, and Gigi.

Clark originated the title role in Kimberly Akimbo off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company, winning the 2022 Lucille Lortel Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and receiving nominations from the Drama League and Drama Desk. The show moved to Broadway, earning Clark her second Tony Award for Leading Actress in 2023 and a Grammy nomination.  

Clark’s films, among others, include The Happening, Wanderland, Cradle Will Rock, and Archaeology of a Woman. Her television credits include The Gilded Age, Elsbeth, Homeland, The Blacklist, Pose, Little America, The Good Wife, Mercy, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Clark directed Dance of Death at Classic Stage Company, and the original musical Newton’s Cradle for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, winning the festival’s best director award. She directed the world premiere of The Trouble With Doug for the Fredericia Theater in Fredericia, Denmark, and most recently in March 2025, directed Love Life by Kurt Weill and Alan Jay Lerner at New York City Center Encores!

Clark is an avid teacher and educator. She served on the faculty at Yale University and as artist-in-residence at Pace University and Duke University, and teaches at conservatories and universities worldwide, as well as in her private studio in New York City. Her solo debut recording, Fifteen Seconds of Grace, is available through PS Classics as well as there-imagining of Maury Yeston’s acclaimed song cycle December Songs, featuring Clark with full orchestra.

Ronald S. Meers
Joe W. Giles TAA Lifetime Achievement Award
Finale Luncheon
MTSU Student Union Grand Ballroom
11:30 am
 - 
July 18, 2025

After a forty-three year award-winning career in education, Ron Meers retired in 2012 following a thirty-year tenure as director of bands at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Prior to his time at Riverdale, Meers was director of bands at Mt. Pleasant High School in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. In 1978, the Mt. Pleasant Band became the first chosen by the Tennessee Bandmasters Association to perform at the Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) Conference held at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Also in 1978, Meers, encouraged by Harry Williams and the Mt. Pleasant Band Boosters, spearheaded the creation of the Class A (Div 1) and later the Class AA (Div 2) State Marching Band Championships. Both events are still thriving today. Meers received his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University and a master’s degree plus thirty hours from Cumberland University. He has served as president of numerous statewide music organizations, including TMEA, the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (MTSBOA), the Tennessee Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Meers has served in numerous adjudication roles including TMEA performing group audition chair, all-state/mid-state audition chair for the MTSBOA, and auditions chair for the Governor’s School for the Arts and Tennessee All-State Band. Throughout his long career, he has adjudicated both marching and concert band events. Meers was selected as the 2002-2003 Riverdale High School Teacher of the Year and in 2011 was inducted into the Tennessee Music Education Association’s Hall of Fame at the Nashville Opryland Hotel. The following year, the Riverdale High School band room was renamed the Ronald S. Meers Band Hall in his honor. 2019 saw Meers inducted into the Tennessee Bandmasters Hall of Fame. Following his induction, Tennessee State Senate Resolution No. 544 was adopted in his honor, sponsored by Senators White (a former student) and Reeves and Representatives Rudd, Leatherwood, and Baum. Meers retired one final time in 2020 after eight years of service as the Tennessee Music Education Association’s executive director.  In 2022, he was presented with the prestigious Lowell Mason Award by the National Association for Music Education and TMEA.

2025 TAA Arts Rich Schools of the Year Award Winners
Rozelle Elementary School for Creative and Performing Arts
2025 TAA Arts Rich Elementary School of the Year Award
Bravo Awards Banquet and Performance
MTSU Student Union Grand Ballroom
6:30 pm
 - 
July 16, 2025

Rozelle Elementary School for Creative and Performing Arts, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is a vibrant institution dedicated to nurturing both academic excellence and artistic talent. As part of the Shelby County Schools district, Rozelle offers a unique Creative and Performing Arts program that integrates arts education into the core curriculum. Students have the opportunity to explore their passions through activities such as dance, drama, music, strings, visual arts, and more. The school earned significant accolades as a Model School in 2024, and since becoming a 2024 Arts Rich School of Merit, has been named a Model School and a 2025 Magnet School of Distinction for commitment to excellence in education and the arts. These honors underscore Rozelle's dedication to fostering a love for creativity and learning. Rozelle has demonstrated significant academic growth over the past few years. In 2022, Rozelle was designated as a Level 5 Reward school by the Tennessee Department of Education for academic growth. Emphasizing a culture of respect, responsibility, and readiness, the school inspires students to excel academically while encouraging creativity and self-expression. Rozelle Elementary’s holistic approach ensures that students are prepared to become future leaders, innovators, and positive contributors to their community. With its focus on academic rigor and artistic excellence, Rozelle Elementary continues to shine as a beacon of inspiration and opportunity for young learners.

South Doyle Middle School
2025 TAA Arts Rich Middle School of the Year Award
Bravo Awards Banquet and Performance
MTSU Student Union Grand Ballroom
6:30 pm
 - 
July 16, 2025

South Doyle Middle School (SDMS), located “south of the river” in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a Title I school serving approximately 800 students in grades six through eight. The faculty includes specialists in academics, special education, English language learning, and the related arts. SDMS’s mission is to become a magnet that draws people to the community and a foundation for residents of South Knoxville. Its vision emphasizes creating a culture of belonging and engagement to support students’ academic and social growth. The faculty includes specialists in academics, special education, English language learning, and the related arts. The school’s daily KEE Time develops the core behaviors of Kindness, Energy, and Effort. All students participate in daily related arts classes, choosing from more than thirteen options, including chorus, band, beginner guitar, general music, performance arts, and news production. After-school offerings such as honors band, art club, ensemble, and Cherokee Singers expand access to creative learning. The SHADES after-school program further enhances engagement through STEM, culinary arts, and media workshops. Students regularly participate in local area arts events and various music competitions and showcases. Serving a richly diverse student body, SDMS values inclusive practices that reflect its commitment to equity and belonging. The school’s dedicated and collaborative team of professionals recognize the role of the arts in supporting students’ cognitive, emotional, and academic growth and is dedicated to providing meaningful opportunities that connect students with their community and the world.

Collierville High School
2025 TAA Arts Rich High School of the Year Award
Bravo Awards Banquet and Performance
MTSU Student Union Grand Ballroom
6:30 pm
 - 
July 16, 2025

Collierville High School’s diverse population remains steadfast in upholding the district’s core values of scholarship, integrity, and service. The school, located in Collierville, Tennessee, strives for academic excellence, fostering a love for learning that shapes the students’ futures. The commitment to integrity ensures that the school’s actions are guided by honesty, responsibility, and ethical conduct. Dedication to service, an emphasis on the importance of the fine arts, fostering artistic literacy, and a commitment to offer an extensive range of arts classes provides students with opportunities for growth and challenge in their artistic pursuits. The requirement for all students to take at least one year of fine arts classes ensures that every student can explore their creativity and develop skills in the arts. Sixty-six percent of the student body is engaged in the arts. A high percentage of students continue to advanced classes, including honors and AP courses. Community involvement in performances, competitions, and shows not only supports and celebrates the achievements of students, but also fosters connections between the school and the community. In the past year, students participated in approximately 123 community art opportunities. These performances and contests provide valuable experiences for students to share their talents and passion for the arts with others. The Collierville High School Fine Arts Department is making significant strides in fulfilling its mission to cultivate artistically literate students who are actively engaged in the arts as lifelong learners.

Tennessee Arts Academy Awards
Arts Leadership Award of Excellence
is presented to an individual or group who has achieved a unique milestone in the arts that deserves recognition and honor.

Distinguished Service Award
is presented to an American whose work stands as a monument to the importance of the arts in the lives of all people.

Joe W. Giles Lifetime Achievement Award
is conferred upon a Tennessee teacher, whose life's work is widely acknowledged to have positively influenced the role of the arts in education, thereby benefiting the students of Tennessee's schools.

Lamar Alexander Founder's Award of Distinction
is presented to an individual whose meritorious accomplishments in the fields of education and the arts have profoundly impacted American culture and life.

Lorin Hollander Award
is given to a Tennessean whose influence has benefited arts education in general and/or the Tennessee Arts Academy in particular. This award is named in honor of internationally renowned concert pianist Lorin Hollander, a special friend of the Academy.

Partner in the Arts Award
honors an individual or business whose generosity and support have contributed in sustained and significant ways to the success of the Tennessee Arts Academy's mission.

Spirit of Tennessee Award
recognizes an individual or group whose work exemplifies the highest standards of artistic endeavor and brings positive recognition to the place of the arts in the lives of Tennesseans.
Previous Recipients
Joe W. Giles Lifetime Achievement Award
1995 Joseph Edward Hodges, Crossville
1996 Freda Kenner, Bells
1996 Sue Blass, Jackson
1997 Elizabeth Rike, Knoxville
1997 Celia Bachelder, Kingsport
1998 James Charles Mills, Johnson City
1998 Gene Crain, Memphis
1999 Patricia Brown, Knoxville
2000 Robert Pletcher, Nashville
2000 Kathy Hawk, Kingsport
2001 Tommie Pardue, Memphis
2001 Tully Daniel, Memphis (awarded posthumously)
2004 Marilyn duBrisk, Greeneville
2004 Bobby Jean Frost, Nashville
2005 Nancy Boone-Allsbrook, Murfreesboro
2005 Sally Crain Jager, Cookeville
2006 Michael Combs, Knoxville
2006 Jean R. Thomas, Chattanooga
2006 Mitchell Van Metre, Knoxville
2007 David Logan, Johnson City
2010 James R. Holcomb, Memphis
2011 Flowerree W. (Galetovic) McDonough, Knoxville
2011 Joe W. Giles, Nashville
2012 Richard Mitchell, Knoxville
2013 Carol Crittenden, Nashville
2014 Fred Patterson, Knoxville
2015 Gregg Coats, Memphis
2016 Ted Rose, Lebanon
2017 Margaret Campbelle-Holman, Nashville
2018 Linda Wilson Miller, Paris
2019 Donna Anderson, Knoxville
2022 Madeline Bridges, Nashville
2023 Melody Weintraub, Memphis
2024 Blanche Pope Tosh, Memphis
Lorin Hollander Award
1994 Cavit Cheshier, education executive
1995 Steven Cohen, state senator
1996 Nellie McNeil, teacher and advocate
1997 Tom L. Naylor, music educator and administrator
1998 T. Earl Hinton, music educator
1999 Jane Walters, educator and arts advocate
2000 Martha McCrory, music educator
2001 Solie Fott, music educator
2008 Jeanette Crosswhite, arts education administrator
2013 Pat and Thane Smith, arts patrons and philanthropists
2014 Cindy Freeman and Michael Meise, music educators and arts advocates
2022 Marion and Stephen Coleman, music educators and arts advocates
Spirit of Tennessee Award
2000 Wilma Dykeman, writer
2001 Jim Crabtree, theatre director and writer
2002 Alice Swanson, arts education administrator and advocate
2003 George Mabry, choral conductor
2006 Dolph Smith, visual artist
2009 George S. Clinton, Hollywood film composer
2009 Jackie Nichols, theatre administrator
2009 Michael Stern, symphony conductor
2010 Charles Brindley, visual artist
2015 Cherry Jones, Broadway actress
2022 Aaron Lazar, Broadway, film, and television actor
Arts Leadership Award of Excellence
2013 E. Frank Bluestein, Germantown
2015 Music Makes Us, Nashville
2016 Belmont University, Nashville
2023 Tiffany Kerns and CMA Foundation, Nashville
Lamar Alexander Founder's Award of Distinction
2013 Senator Lamar Alexander, United States Senator Douglas Henry,
2014 Tennessee State Senator
2017 Bill Haslam, Tennessee Governor
Distinguished Service Award
1994 Charles Strouse, Broadway composer
1995 Charles Fowler, arts educator, writer and advocate
1996 Jerome Lawrence, playwright
1997 Lorin Hollander, concert pianist and philosopher
2000 Scott Ellis, Broadway theatre director
2000 Mary Costa, opera singer
2001 Sheldon Harnick, Broadway lyricist
2001 Tina Packer, Shakespeare actor and director
2003 Bob McGrath, singer and host of Sesame Street
2005 John Simon, author and arts critic
2005 Dean Pitchford, songwriter, lyricist, screenwriter, and director
2006 Andre Thomas, choral conductor
2007 Joe DiPietro, Broadway playwright and lyricist
2008 Henry Krieger, Broadway composer
2011 Marvin Hamlisch, composer and pianist
2012 Richard Sherman, composer and lyricist
2013 Marc Cherry, Hollywood writer and producer
2014 Rupert Holmes, playwright, composer, and lyricist
2015 Richard Maltby, Jr., director, lyricist, producer, writer
2016 Audrey Flack, painter and sculptor
2016 Andrew Lippa, composer, lyricist, performer, and writer
2016 Doc Severinsen, musician and bandleader
2017 Christopher Durang, Broadway playwright
2018 Tony Walton, Broadway set and costume designer
2019 Jeff Calhoun, Broadway choreographer, dancer, and director
2022 Harolyn Blackwell, opera singer and Broadway performer
2023 David Yazbek, composer, lyricist, performer, and writer
2024 Jerry Zaks, Broadway Director

Partner in the Arts Award
2008 Steve Spiegel, president of Theatrical Rights Worldwide

Check Back Regularly for 2025 Tennessee Arts Academy Information and Updates
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