MSBOA > Teacher Of The Year

Teacher of the Year 2024-2025

2025 Teacher of the Year Nominees

Each year MSBOA recognizes a Teacher of the Year for Band and a Teacher of the Year for Orchestra. The
process begins in the Spring with each of the MSBOA Districts nominating a candidate in each classification.
The Executive Board reviews all of the candidates and selects up to three in each area to submit to the entire
active membership. In this posting you will find statements about each candidate.

MSBOA congratulates each of these fine instrumental music educators for their nomination to this honor.

Band Nominees

Richard Erne

Richard Erne, Director of Bands at Reeths-Puffer Middle School, recently retired in June 2024 after completing his 34th year in music education. Mr. Erne’s student ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at District and State Festivals throughout his career. He has coached countless students who participated successfully in District and State Solo & Ensemble festivals as well as Michigan All-State ensembles. His Reeths-Puffer Middle School Symphonic Band has been selected to perform at the Michigan Music Conference in 2007, 2020, and 2025. Erne has additionally contributed to the repertoire for young bands by commissioning works from composers William Owens, Daniel Kovats, Brian Balmages, Erik Morales, and Scott Boerma.

Over the span of his career, Erne has been active in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association District 7, serving in every office as well as receiving five nominations by the District membership for MSBOA Teacher of the Year. In 2005, Erne founded the first District 7 Middle School Honors Orchestra & Band, a program he continued to chair for ten years and which continues today. He most recently has served as Manager for the Michigan All-State Middle School Orchestra and Band, and as District Emeritus Chair for MSBOA.

Erne has also helped to bridge community connections by regularly hosting visiting European student performing ensembles in the Muskegon area, his ensembles performing regularly at Veterans ceremonies in Muskegon, and serving as interim director of the West Shore Youth Symphony.

Prior to his position with the Reeths-Puffer instrumental music team, Erne taught at Battle Creek Pennfield Schools and Grand Haven Area Public Schools where he served as Chairman of the Music Department and was the Director of Bands and Orchestras. Erne was twice awarded the Educator Achievement Award from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation in 1998 and 1999.

Erne has maintained an active role in seasonal administration at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for the last thirty years, and currently serves as Director of Arts Programs.