Toledo Symphony

Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award

Meet Our OMEYA Finalists!

The Toledo Symphony Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award celebrates one deserving music teacher in our region through a process of nominations and community voting. At Live Arts Toledo, we recognize the important role music teachers play in the lives of the students they teach. Music teachers introduce, instill, and cultivate a love of music that surpasses the time spent in the classroom. They lay the foundation for a lifetime appreciation that serves to perpetuate the artforms we also strive to continue. This year's finalists include Michelle Keaster, Frank Ramon, Nick Van Vorhis, and Ryan Williams. Get to know this year's finalists below before placing your vote. Voting will close February 28, 2026 at 11:59pm. The educator with the most votes will be selected as the 2025-2026 Outstanding Music Educator of the Year and will receive:

  • Special recognition by the Toledo Symphony at the Friday, March 20, 2026 Masterworks concert. 
  • Complimentary tickets to one (1) 2026-2027 Toledo Symphony Young People's Concert or one (1) 2026-2027 Masterworks concert for the winner's entire class (up to 50 students).
  • One (1) complimentary ensemble presentation for the winner’s classroom or school during the 2026-2027 academic year. 
  • Award recognition on Live Arts Toledo social media pages. 
  • Press release announcement to local papers, television, and radio stations.

Michelle Keaster has been teaching since the age of 16 when she taught her first private flute lesson. She has maintained her flute studio and is currently in her 17th year at Monclova Christian Academy where she teaches kindergarten – 12th grade general music, choir, and band. Prior to MCA, her teaching experience included four years at Bowling Green Christian Academy teaching kindergarten – 8th grades and 3 years as the assistant flute instructor at Wichita State University. Michelle earned a Bachelor’s of Music Education with a Vocal Certification and a Bachelor’s of Music – Flute Performance from the University of Central Missouri. She completed her Masters of Music – Flute Performance from Wichita State University.

Michelle’s students have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Bands, choirs, soloists, and ensembles under her direction have consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings at various music festivals for the last 15 years. Monclova Christian Academy was awarded the 2025 Support Music Merit Award from the North American Music Merchants Foundation. The award is given to schools for their commitment to music education. This is the eleventh consecutive year the school has received this award.

Michelle is a member of Ohio Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, Ohio Choral Directors Association, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, and Northwest Ohio Orff Chapter #90.

When Michelle is not teaching, she likes to spend her time as a freelance flutist, cheering on her hometown Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, traveling, and spending time with her TSO double bass husband, Aaron, and TSYO oboist daughter, Kaelee.

 

Frank Ramon has proudly lived in Toledo, Ohio for over 30 years. He holds both a Bachelor’s of Music Education and a Master’s of Music in Conducting from the University of Toledo. Employed by Toledo Public Schools for 27 years, Frank has been teaching within the Waite learning community for the past 25 years. Having taught multiple musical disciplines to students grades 5-12, he has held positions as a band director as well as his current position as Director of Orchestras at Waite High School.

Frank has a passion for teaching music that extends to all manner of performing ensembles. Over his career he has worked with various groups that extend beyond his teaching position. Some of these groups include the Waite Alumni Orchestra, Toledo ZooTeen Jazz Band, and numerous high school marching bands in the Toledo area. As a musician he has performed on trombone, bass guitar, and violin with a multitude of high school and college level ensembles including the University of Toledo Symphony Orchestra. When he is not busy teaching, Frank enjoys playing different types of board games, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

Nick Van Vorhis is the band director and serves as the fine arts chair at St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio. Nick has served as the band director for grades 6-12 for three years at St. John's, and previously served as the music teacher at Wildwood Environmental Academy, and as a marching band assistant at Patrick Henry High School.

As a bassoonist, Nick has performed in several community ensembles such as the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra, the Bowling Green Community Band, and the Sylvania Community Band.

Originally from Bowling Green, Ohio, he attended Bowling Green State University and studied bassoon under Dr. Susan Nelson while earning his bachelor's degree in music education in 2022.

He currently directs the Jazzuits (Jazz-zoo-its), the St. John's Jazz Band; First Class Jazz, the St. John's Jazz Combo group; The St. John's Jesuit Marching Titans, and the St. John's Jesuit Concert Band in the high school, and directs the Beginning and Intermediate bands in the St. John's Jesuit Academy.  

 

Ryan Williams is the Head Band Director at Perrysburg High School. He earned his degree in Instrumental Music Education with a specialization in percussion from Bowling Green State University, where he was active in numerous professional and performance organizations, including the Percussive Arts Society and the Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association.

Mr. Williams began his teaching career in 2015 with the Northeastern Local School District, serving students at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels. In 2016, he joined Perrysburg Schools as Assistant Director of Bands and has been a dedicated member of the music staff ever since. He assumed the role of Head Band Director in Fall 2025. Under his leadership, Perrysburg band students have consistently earned Superior and Excellent ratings at Ohio Music Education Association adjudicated events and received top accolades at the National Adjudicators Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia. A proud alumnus, Mr. Williams is honored to serve his alma mater and continue Perrysburg’s strong tradition of musical excellence.