NICEVILLE, Fla. — Michelle Tredway, a distinguished Niceville music educator with an illustrious 34-year career, has been selected to receive the 2024 Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) Secondary Music Educator of the Year Award.
The prestigious accolade is in honor of Mrs. Tredway’s dedication and outstanding contributions to music education, which include serving for a total of 14 years at Lewis School in Valparaiso, Ruckel Middle School, and Niceville High School (NHS) in Niceville, and Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs, said the FMEA.
Mrs. Tredway expressed her surprise and gratitude at receiving the award while also being ecstatic about the honor of the nomination itself.
“I am incredibly honored to have even been nominated,” she said. To have been selected is unbelievable.”
Mrs. Tredway’s commitment to the Florida Music Education Association and service to the Florida Vocal Association, where she currently holds the position of Middle School Chair, also played a pivotal role in earning this prestigious recognition.
The journey to the award began with a nomination by a colleague.
“There was a very high level of competition in this particular category, but you stood out above the rest!” FMEA wrote in an email to Mrs. Tredway.
“FMEA has deep appreciation to you for the work that you are doing to promote quality music education at Niceville Senior High School. Your nomination and wonderful letters of support definitely illuminated your contributions to the field of music education.”
Currently working as an assistant to Catherine Feazell in the choral department at NHS, Mrs. Tredway co-teaches girls jazz and barbershop classes and serves as the NHS chorus pianist. In addition to this, she leads sectionals and works with soloists, small ensembles, and instrumentalists.
Reflecting on her career, Mrs. Tredway shared, “I have never desired another profession. I absolutely love the hum of industry in a music classroom.”
Her passion for music education has touched students’ lives at every level, from elementary through college.
A distinguished alumna, Mrs. Tredway holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of West Florida and a Master of Music in Music Education from Florida State University. Her post-graduate studies include piano performance at the University of South Florida.
In her 34 years of teaching, Mrs. Tredway has significantly contributed to vocal and instrumental music at various educational levels. Beyond her role as an educator, she has served as an adjunct and assistant music professor, collaborated with numerous ensembles, and demonstrated her expertise as an Orff-certified and Kodaly-trained professional.
Post-Covid, she spent two years at Walton High School, where she reinvigorated a choral program, which continues to grow even after her absence.
Mrs. Tredway’s impact extends beyond the classroom. Her leadership role in choirs has consistently earned the highest ratings and achieved ‘Choir of Distinction’ status. Her current initiative with the Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus to launch the first Emerald Coast Children’s Chorus highlights her commitment to the choral education of elementary students.
Mrs. Tredway has been a collaborative pianist for many vocal and instrumental ensembles over the course of her teaching years. They include the Imperial Symphony Orchestra (Lakeland), the Okaloosa Chamber Singers, the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale, 19 Okaloosa All County Choirs, six Florida All-State Choirs, 19 Twin Cities Honor Choirs, and many other solo and small ensemble collaborative performances over the years.
Her ongoing involvement as an adjudicator and honor choir clinician, her leadership roles within the Florida Vocal Association, and her tenure as district chair and middle school chairperson for 2023–2025 exemplify Mrs. Tredway’s unwavering commitment to fostering musical excellence among young learners.
The award will be presented to Mrs. Tredway at the FMEA Awards Breakfast on Friday, January 12, 2024, in Tampa.
Niceville.com congratulates Mrs. Tredway on this well-deserved honor and celebrates her remarkable achievements in music education.
