Elgin band director to be recognized Thursday

TULSA — Elgin’s Band Director Michael Palmer will receive a statewide awards for his service on Thursday.

Palmer will be awarded the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) Exemplary Teacher Award during a ceremony that’s part of the OkMEA Winter Conference at the DoubleTree in downtown Tulsa in the International Ballroom.

Exemplary teachers must have completed at least 15 years of active service as a music teacher and/or music administrator and been a member of OkMEA/NAfME for a minimum of 10 years.

Recipients have also demonstrated excellence in the teaching of music, as evidenced by competitions, awards, and peer or administrator statements, according to Katie Robertson, OkMEA Executive Director. Exemplary teachers are nominated by their peers, recommended by the OkMEA Awards committee, and confirmed by the OkMEA Executive Board.

Palmer is currently in his 12th year as Director of Bands at Elgin Public Schools with teaching duties including all grade levels of concert band from fifth grade through high school, The Pride of Elgin Marching Band, High School Jazz Band, High School Color Guard, Dance Team, and Percussion Ensemble. He previously served as the assistant director at Eufaula Public Schools for nine years.

Palmer is a graduate of East Central University in Ada, where he completed both his bachelor’s degree in music education and master’s degree in school administration. He is also very fond and proud of his six years served with the 145th Oklahoma Army National Guard Band. His professional affiliations include the Southwest Oklahoma Band Directors Association, the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, the Oklahoma Music Adjudicators Association, and Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity.

Ensembles that Palmer has been associated with have consistently earned superior ratings and awards at multiple OSSAA Band Contests and invitational contests throughout the state of Oklahoma. Rpbertson said. Most notably are 16 OSSAA Outstanding Achievement Awards for middle school ensembles, 14 OSSAA State Sweepstakes Awards for high school ensembles, and selection as a 2018-2019 Okla homa Music Educators Association Honor Band.

Palmer was named the 2015 Shortgrass Band Directors Association Director of the Year, the 2016 Elgin School District Teacher of the Year, the 2016 Southwestern Oklahoma Band Director Association’s Director of the Year, and the 2022 Oklahoma Bandmasters Director of the Year.

Palmer said he is grateful for his beautiful wife of 25 years, Shala, and their two grown children Lillyan and Sebastian. When not enjoying his favorite activity of “doing band,” Palmer said he enjoys riding his motorcycle, fishing, hunting and spoiling the plethora of farm animals on the ol’ Leanin’ P Farms.