Professor Annie Chalex Boyle was honored by the 2023 Texas American String Teachers Association (TexASTA) - Phyllis Young Outstanding Studio Teacher Award at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference on February 11.
“The TexASTA Phyillis Young Outstanding Studio Teacher Award is given in recognition of excellence in and contribution to the area of private studio string teaching. Nominees for this award should epitomize every facet of excellence in string teaching in Texas” (TexASTA). Annie Chalex Boyle is the Associate Professor of Violin, one of two violin studio professors here at the Texas Tech University School of Music. We are so honored to have TWO professors of this prestigious award; Professor of Violin, Dr. John Haspel Gilbert is the 2015 recipient.
Before the TexASTA Educator Award ceremony, the session also presented performances of the 2023 TexASTA Senior and Junior Division Concerto Competition winners with the TexASTA Orchestra. The awarded senior division winner is TTU School of Music alumna, Ariya Tai. Ariya studied violin performance in her undergraduate and master's degree with Professor Annie Chalex Boyle. In the TexASTA Orchestra, students from the TTU – ASTA chapter performed in this ensemble (CJ Goodyear, Anna Kim, and Victoria Solis). This was an extra special session for Texas Tech!
Photo Credit: Pamela McIntosh
In accepting the award, Professor Chalex Boyle shared heartfelt remarks:
“Although I did not know Phyllis Young, I know that her main goal with music making was to have a sound the size of Texas... That is what we are all trying to do as educators, is really reach and have the biggest breath of what we do and truly make a difference throughout our state and beyond... My teaching is what it is, because of my students. I am not a teacher just because of what I learned, I become a teacher because of who is in front of me. And I have changed so much because of all the people who have been in my studio."
“Fagner taught me that collegial relationships are the core of making a real difference. Brent taught me that wearing jeans for a recital is sometimes appropriate. Daniel taught me that an expresso machine can really help a violin lesson. CJ taught me that leadership is in all of us. Rodrigo (with an extremely rolled R), taught me that it is time that I learned how to properly say his name. Joseph taught me that you need tremendous patience to be patient. Xavier taught me that telling the truth is always the right choice. EVEN if you accidentally drop your instrument off the second-floor balcony, right outside of Hemmle Hall, 30 minutes before your recital. James taught me that you can be a great violinist while still living time to make oboe reeds. Justus taught me that losing a competition is sometimes exactly what you need... And Ariya taught me to never, ever, ever, give up on one's dream.”
Video Credit: Dr. Andy Stetson
Professor Chalex Boyle shares that she wouldn't have been able to make a difference as an educator, artist, and person, if it weren't for her students. “The only reason I'm here is because of the people who have come through my studio for the past whatever number of years.”
Congratulations to Professor Annie Chalex Boyle and her students!