an award for the Maine Distinguished Choir Director
Named for Dr. Robert Russell (University of Southern Maine) and Dr. Dennis Cox (University of Maine) for their contributions to choral music in the state, this honor is awarded each year at the Maine MMEA In-Service Conference ACDA Luncheon to a choral colleague who exhibits the qualities below:
- Current membership in ACDA
- Commitment to performance excellence and appropriate repertory standards
- Advocacy for choral music in the community
- Active participation in ACDA functions and statewide activities
- Contributions to ACDA through work in district, state, regional or national conventions, committees, etc.
Past recipients of the Russell-Cox Award include:
- 2024 Virgil Bozeman IV
- 2023 Heidi Corliss
- 2022 Ashley Albert
- 2019 Kim Murphy
- 2018 Dr. Peter Stickney and Rebecca DeWan
- 2017 Pam Rhein
- 2016 Wendy Northrop
- 2015 Rick Dustin
- 2014 Nora Kranis
- 2013 Matthew Murray
- 2012 Rob Westerberg
- 2011 Kevin Rhein & Cathy Murray
- 2010 Beth Preston
- 2009 Darrell Morrow
- 2008 David Stevenson
- 2007 Erin Lowell & Rick Nickerson
- 2005 Denice Parkhurst
- 2004 Jaye Churchill
- 2003 Lise Dunn
- 2002 Jay Nelson
- 2001 Heidi Corliss
- 2000 Anthony Antolini
- 1999 Daniel Ladner
- 1998 Betsey Lavway
- 1997 The Management (Barbershop Quartet) Kirk Young, Chris Peterson, Larry Bean, and Michael Martin
- 1996 Gerard Chamberlin
- 1995 Barbara Franklin
- 1994 NONE
- 1993 Dr. Dennis Cox, Dr. Robert Russell
- 1992 Janice Smith
- 1991 Margaret “Peggy” LaForge