TACOMA, WA — The Washington American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) selected Bernard Crouse, Choral Director at Spanaway Lake High School, as a recipient of the 2013 Washington State ACDA Outstanding Choral Director Award.  The award was presented by ACDA President Lori Wiest, and President Elect Tim Fitzpatrick at the annual ACDA Summer Institute on Wednesday, July 17, in Kilworth Chapel at University of Puget Sound to honor Crouse’s significantly impactful contributions to the art of choral music within the state of Washington.

Congratulations Mr. Crouse, you have worked hard and done amazing things with your students!

The following is flagrantly lifted from the web page of the Washington – American Choral Director’s Association

The Outstanding Choral Director Award

Bernard Crouse     The state’s “Outstanding Choral Director” award for 2013 went to Bernard Crouse of Spanaway Lake High School. Lori had this to say about Barney (as he’s called by his friends):

“The winner of the Outstanding Choral Director Award has  been serving our art and his community for over three decades, and has been the  director at Spanaway Lake High School in Spanaway, WA since 1985.  He has been named Bethel School District  Teacher of the Year and has received the Pierce County, Washington, Arts  Commission’s Margaret K. Williams Award for Excellence in Arts Education.  His choirs have performed several times at  the Washing Music Educators Conference, and at the Washington Arts Time  Conference, the Washington State PTA Convention, the School Director’s  Convention, and the School Administrators Association Convention.
Our recipient consistently sets high expectations for his  students, and as a result, they love him and work hard to “Expect  Excellence.”   This director provides,  according to his district’s fine arts coordinator, ‘a nurturing environment for  his students, giving them opportunities to collaborate, to learn new concepts  and skills, and to take risks.’”

In Barny’s own words, “What I thought upon hearing from Lori that I was receiving this award was: “Since 1971 I have  been sitting in audiences and watching others receive awards; and to be honest,  being a little envious: wishing I could do what they do.  What I have  learned over the years is just to keep attending workshops – absorb all you can  – and then pass those ideas on to others. That sharing is the real, fulfilling  joy of being an educator.”