The National Association for Music Education announced that Alison Miles, band director at Fabius-Pompey Middle/High School, is the recipient of the 2023 George N. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education. Miles was presented the award during the Music for All Future Music Educators’ Experience event in Indianapolis on Nov. 11.

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The George N. Parks Award honors an exemplary music educator who embodies the characteristics and leadership that Parks showed his students every day. The recipient must have a collaborative spirit, dedication to knowing the students as people, perseverance and enthusiasm, and an ability to instill qualities in students beyond musical achievement.

Miles has worked for the Fabius-Pompey Central School District for the past 17 years. She serves as the middle school director, conducts the fifth grade band, middle school band, jazz band, and teaches lessons for grades 5 through 8. During her tenure, Miles has served in a variety of capacities as band director and teaching general music. Her bands have consistently received gold ratings at more than ten festivals, and her students participate in multiple NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) events including Solo Festival, Area All-State, and Conference All-State. Alison was the recipient of the 2023 CiTi Arts in Education’s Innovation in Education award and has presented at the NYSSMA conference.

Miles earned her bachelors and master’s degrees in music education from SUNY Fredonia and a bachelor’s in music performance on oboe. In addition to teaching, Miles is a dedicated musician, playing the oboe and English horn for Central Winds, a music educator’s wind ensemble in Central New York. She has had the opportunity to perform at both the Midwest Clinic and at the Texas Bandmasters Association convention.

Miles strives to include all students who have an interest in band and works diligently to provide opportunities to allow success at every level. While at Fabius-Pompey, she has built an instrument inventory permitting easier instrument access giving every student the opportunity to be a member of the band. This dedication has been a critical component to the instrumental program, which has successfully retained more than 40% of the student body as members of the band.

The National Association for Music Education is a collaborative community that supports music educators and advocates for equitable access to music education. The only association that addresses all aspects of music education, NAfME, together with its affiliated state music education associations, advocates at the national, state, and local levels and provides resources and opportunities for teachers, students, parents, and administrators. Founded in 1907 and representing more than 57,000 members teaching millions of students, NAfME advances the music education profession and promotes lifelong experiences in music.

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