Auburn music teacher Bill Buza named Maine Music Educator of the Year; district wins national music-education honor
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Summary
Edward Little High School music teacher Bill Buza received the 2025 Maine Music Educator of the Year award and the Auburn School Department was named a 2025 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation, honors district leaders said at the June 18 Auburn School Committee meeting.
Bill Buza, a long-time music educator at Edward Little High School, was recognized June 18 after being named the 2025 Maine Music Educator of the Year and the Auburn School Department was announced as a 2025 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation.
The recognition was presented during the Auburn School Committee meeting by Scott Aineer, assistant superintendent, and highlighted by Superintendent Sue Doris. Aineer called Buza “the leader of music in Auburn” and detailed Buza’s role in teaching band, percussion, jazz, marching band and music theory since joining Edward Little in 2012.
The awards underscore the district’s investment in music programs and facilities. Dr. Sue Doris said Auburn is one of five Maine school departments to receive the NAMM Foundation honor and described the recognition as reflecting “our exceptional commitment to music education.” Buza told the committee he felt “very fortunate to be received that award” and called the honor a recognition of both his work and community support.
Committee members noted the district’s facilities, including the Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center at Edward Little High School. Buza credited the community and district leaders for budgetary and operational backing that helped the music program, and he described the performing arts center as a major asset for students and visiting performers.
The district provided recent program achievements to the committee: state-level jazz festival recognition, a gold medal for the concert band at the Great East Music Festival in Massachusetts, student placements at district and all‑state festivals, and three Auburn Middle School students slated to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York next week, according to remarks during the meeting.
Committee members and administrators said they will share the awards with the larger Auburn community and continue supporting music instruction and performance opportunities.
