CHHS Music Department Annual Awards
Below is the surviving archive of SHS/CHHS Music Department Awards
If you have access to earlier records, please contact Mr. Fiedler.
We'd love to host a complete archive of historic records - but we are missing several years of data
Individual Awards
The John Philip Sousa Award
(for exceptional service in marching band)
2026: TBA
2025: Kyra Weiner
2024: Kyra Weiner
2023: Johnny Avila
2022: Kate Chasin/Peter Ekong
2021: Kate Chasin
2020: Liam Schoel
2019: Kelly Hatfield
2018: Harper Estus
2017: Ramon Araujo
2016: Jacob Basilio
2015: Dennis Feinland
The National Choral Award
(for exceptional service in vocal music)
2026: TBA
2025: Rae Hassebrock
2024: Rae Hassebrock
2023: Alana Bjyrd/Paul Ashby
2022: Nisha Ogami/Caitlyn Davidson
2021: Luna Canuel
2020: Kalina Gonzalez
2019: Kalina Gonzalez
2018: Not Awarded
2017: Jaqueline Nunez
2016: Briana Parker
2015: Kianna Moody
Orchestra Student of the Year
(for exceptional service in string orchestra)
2026: TBA
2025: Nicholas Nelson
2024: Sydney Brown
2023: Sydney Brown
2022: Chaneol Choi
2021: Michelle Jimenez and Gloria Park
2020: Maxwell Tooley
2019: Kate Chasin
The National School Color Guard Award
(for exceptional guard service)
2026: TBA
2025: Amiya Sessoms
2024: Rosemary Monk
2023: Kensley Connick
2022: Erin Soulé/Bree Nicholas
2021: Kate Black
2020: Arwen Meeks
2019: Madison Napurano
2018: Madison Napurano
2017: Alexis Hill
The CHHS Memorial Award
(2015-2019: for exceptional service in Marching Band)
(2020-Present: for exceptional service in Jazz Band)
2026: TBA
2025: Rylan Bigler
2024: Nicholas Urmaza
2023: Johnny Avila/Rylan Bigler
2022: Jeremy Navarro
2021: Calvin Lawn/Chris Strantz
2020: Liam Schoel
2019: Jose Orozco Jr.
2018: Rachel Schwall/Alexis Rouza
2017: Matthew Joslin
2016: Richard Schamp
2015: Kaela Aguilar
Musical Theatre Student of the Year
(for exceptional service in Musical Theatre)
2026: TBA
2025: Logan Hamilton
2024: Via Perlas/Alvin Woltz
2023: Nick Alcorn/Emma Schweitzer
2022: Forrest Cobb/Emma Schweitzer
2021: Asa Horpayak
G Clef Award
(Voted on by their peers - this award is for the student who best represents the music department as a whole)
2026: TBA
2025: Rylan Bigler
2024: Kyra Weiner
2023: Johnny Avila
2022: Kate Chasin
2021: Not Awarded/Covid-19
2020: Liam Schoel
F Clef Award
(Selected by their teachers - this award is for the student who best displays excellent musicality and skill as a performer)
2026: TBA
"/" indicates two students shared the award
Best Section Awards
(for going above and beyond as small groups within an ensemble)
Marching Band
2026: TBA
2025: Percussion (Battery and Pit)
2024: Clarinets
2023: Drumline (Battery)
2022: Front Ensemble (Pit Percussion)
2021: High Reeds
2020: Low Reeds
2019: Trumpets
2018: Percussion (Battery and Pit)
2017: Low Reeds
2016: Horns
2015: Tubas
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2002: Color Guard
2001: Trumpets
2000: Not Awarded
1999: Low Brass
1998: Trumpets
1997: Trumpets
1996: Tubas
1995: Percussion/Saxophones
1994: Percussion/Flutes
1993: Clarinets
1992: Low Brass
1991: Low Brass/Woodwinds
Choir
2026: Not Awarded
2025: Not Awarded
2024: Not Awarded
2023: Tenors
2022: Not Awarded
2021: Not Awarded
2020: First Sopranos
2019: Not Awarded
2018: Not Awarded
2017: First Sopranos
2016: Baritones
2015: Sopranos
String Orchestra
2026: TBA
2025: String Basses
2024: String Basses
2023: First Violins
2022: First Violins
2021: First Violins
2020: First Violins
2019: Violas
2018: Not Awarded
2017: Violas
2016: Cellos
2015: Cellos
District VAPA Spotlight Awards
Since 2018, SDUSD annually awards "Spotlight" awards to individuals involved with the visual and performing arts within the district. These awards can go to students, teachers, parents, or community members who make a difference in their communities. Representatives from our school may not be recognized yearly, but it's important to recognize when they do.
2026:
Spotlight Awards were canceled/paused entirely
2025:
Rylan Bigler (Jazz/Marching/Orchestra)- Artistic Achievement Award
Jill Soulé (Music Booster Officer) - Creative Community Engagement Award
Ms Cantalupo (Theatre Teacher) - Creative Leadership Award
Mr Fiedler (Music Teacher) - Creative Community Engagement Award
2024:
Danieska Mejia Estrada (Orchestra) - Artistic Growth Award
Jack Phillips (Jazz/Marching) - Rising Star Award
2023:
Johnny Avila (Jazz, Marching, Orchestra) - Artistic Achievement Award
Dr Renfree (CHHS Principal) - Creative Leadership Award
2022:
Abigail Parra Rodriguez (Marching) - Creative Leadership Award
Emma Schweitzer (Musical Theatre) - Artistic Achievement Award
Jessie Turner (Marching) - Creative Leadership Award
Peter Ekong (Jazz/Marching) - Artistic Growth Award
2021:
Asa Horpayak (Musical Theatre) - Creative Leadership Award
Gloria Park (Orchestra) - Artistic Growth Award
Kate Chasin (Marching) - Creative Leadership Award
2020:
Arwen Meeks (Color Guard, Orchestra, Mus Thr) - Artistic Growth Award
Liam Schoel (Jazz, Marching) - Artistic Growth Award
2019:
Kelly Hatfield (Marching) - Artistic Achievement Award
Mr Blokker (Theatre Teacher) - Creative Leadership Award
2018:
Mr Fiedler (Music Teacher) - Creative Leadership Award
"Letter" Criteria
To recognize years of service within an ensemble, music "varsity letters" are distributed to students based on the following criteria.
1 year of service in a performance ensemble: G clef pin
2 years of service in a performance ensemble: 1st service bar
3 years of service in a performance ensemble: Varsity letter
4 years of service in a performance ensemble:
2nd service bar, VAPA graduation tassel, and potential Honors 7/8 status
Note: "performance ensemble" and "class" are two different things.
There is no recognition for being in a class but not participating as a member of that class's performance ensemble.
Guitar class is strictly a course and not an ensemble - but students who continue on into another music class after taking guitar can earn varsity letters.
Also Note: VAPA graduation tassels are distributed by the school district and are awarded based on an accounting of credits year over year within one VAPA discipline. Students looking forward to this distinction who transfer to SDUSD from other schools should make sure they are correctly placed/receiving credit for the classes they've already completed in order to be honored. You must be enrolled in (and pass) four years of a music course.