Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Music Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Auburn music educator Bill Buza honored as Maine Music Educator of the Year; district named a 2025 Best Community for Music Education
Summary
At its June 18 meeting, the Auburn School Committee recognized Edward Little High School music leader Bill Buza for being named Maine Music Educator of the Year and announced the district was named a 2025 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation.
The Auburn School Committee on June 18 recognized Edward Little High School music leader Bill Buza as the 2025 Maine Music Educator of the Year and announced that Auburn Public Schools received the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation’s 2025 Best Communities for Music Education designation.
Committee members and district leaders said the honors reflect sustained investment in the district’s music programs and the new Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center at Edward Little High School. Assistant Superintendent Scott Aineer introduced Buza and praised his work leading ensembles across grade levels and guiding the performing arts center’s development from concept through construction and technology installation.
"It is a great honor and privilege to celebrate Bill Buza tonight," Aineer said. Buza, speaking after the recognition, called the award "a very high honor" and said he felt "proud" and fortunate to receive it. He noted the district’s NAMM Foundation application was extensive — describing it in the meeting as a 62-page submission that included essays and data — and credited broad community and administrative support for the district achievement.
District leaders highlighted recent student accomplishments they said reflect program strength. Aineer and Buza noted the Edward Little program won a state silver at the state jazz festival, earned a gold medal at the Great East Music Festival in Massachusetts, and had students selected for district, state and All-Eastern honor ensembles. The committee also received a handout mentioning three Auburn Middle School students chosen to perform at Carnegie Hall.
The recognitions came during routine meeting business; no formal votes were required for the honors. Committee members and administrators said the awards underscore continuing community and board support for music education and the role of the performing arts center in district offerings.
The committee meeting record shows these recognitions were presented by Scott Aineer and Superintendent Sue Doris and include direct remarks from Bill Buza.
