Member Awards
An award given at Quartz Hill since 1966, The John Philip Sousa Award is the highest award we can give to an instrumentalist. It recognizes outstanding leadership, superior musicianship, and overall contributions to the Quartz Hill Band & Pageantry program.
Established in 1955, the award is named after John Philip Sousa, the famous American composer and conductor known as the “March King.”
Winners
1966 – Mario Grossi
1967 – Johnny Bidwell
1968 – Jeanne Adair
1969 – Dale Newkirk
1970 – Gary Newkirk
1971 – Carol Newkirk
1972 – Donna Bushman
1973 – Betty Giba
1974 – Donald Giesler
1975 – Jim Young
1976 – Larry Giesler
Past Winners
1988 – Tammy Garner
1989 – Robert Marshall
1990 – Nick Crossland
1991 – Tomas Sanderson
1992 – Lawrence Achivida
1993 – Tami Greaver
1994 – Alvin Mok
1995 – Jenny Guenther
1996 – Jason Mangan
1997 – Billy Stevens
1998 – Lisa Rashiatore
1977 – Suzy Chaney
1978 – Rosemary Rohaley
1979 – Marya Andrepont
1980 – Erich Bernhard
1981 – Kathy Offerding
1982 – Richard Truhe
1983 – Eric Gillins
1984 – Molly Dominick
1985 – Michelle Clement
1986 – David Pomerleau
1987 – Gene Wilk
1999 – Tracy Duffy
2000 – Mara Parkins
2001 – David Bolin
2002 – Kristine Liberda
2003 – Robert Caro
2004 – Jared Gates
2005 – Roselynne Martinez
2006 – Erin McQuilkin
2007 – Julian Jenkins
2008 – Clarkson Crane
2009 – Rachel Sumner
John Phillip Sousa Award
Past Winners
2010 – Mitchell Cooper
2011 – Marcea Ascencio
2012 – Emily Manetti
2013 – Sergio Cortez
2014 – Thameenah Alam
2015 – Nic Virtue
2016 – Jacob Harbuck
2017 – Alex Ortiz
2018 – Samuel Perez III
2019 – Thanh Bui
2020 – Yasmin Olmos
2021 – Kory Ha
2022 – Russel Lin 2023 – Christian Cabrales 2024 – Michael Macaluso
2025 – Xavior Lira
2025 – Layla Haberman
Martha Graham Pageantry Award
The Martha Graham Award recognize individuals or organizations for their outstanding contributions to dance, leadership, and choreography for our color guard at Quartz Hill. Martha Graham, a pioneering figure in modern dance, established this award, personally, to honor excellence in the field.
Winners
2000 – Amber Petersen
2001 – Jennifer Wilson
2002 – Jodi Allen
2003 – Danae Busby
2006 – Rachel Bremerman
2007 – Kristina Nakamura
2009 – Lauren Ellis
2012 – Shameka Beaugard
2013 – Maria Alvarado
2015 – Gillian Richman
2017 – Kayla Lander
2018 – Emely Ortega
2019 – Tatum Lee
2023 – Jocelyn Thompson
2024 – Natalia Mejia
Louie Armstrong Jazz Award
The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, established in 1974 with the approval of Louis Armstrong's widow, honors outstanding achievements in jazz education among high school students. It is the highest interscholastic award for jazz students, acknowledging their excellence in performance and understanding of jazz at Quartz Hill.
Winners
2009 – Joshua Crumbly
2010 – Mitchell Cooper
2011 – Jakob Pierce
2012 – Austin Cooper
2013 – Jacob Taube
Past Winners
2014 – Jason Samuels
2015 – Terence Duldula
2018 – Ayden Howell 2019 – Matthew Evarts 2022 – Bryce McGough
Past Winners
2023 –Michael Cabrales
2024 – Derek Dabo 2025 – Frankie Duron
The John McQuilkin Virtuoso Award
Formally known as The Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award, it is presented to the most accomplished, skillful, and artistic performer in the Royal Marching Regiment. Open to all senior members, this award celebrates exceptional dedication, skill, and virtuosity in the marching arts. It honors students who demonstrate unwavering commitment to the ensemble, consistently uphold the highest standards of musicianship or guardsmanship, and serve as inspiring performance models for their peers. This award has been revived 37 years later and renamed in honor of former band director John McQuilkin, who upheld the highest performance standards for the Quartz Hill instrumental music program during his 37 years of leadership.
Winners
1978 - Sherri Moeller 1979 - Anne Harney 1980 - Sean Burch 1981 - Nea Sacks 1982 - Veronica Stapleton 1983 - Mike Gilmore 1984 - Mike Pomerleau 1985 - Julee Waln 1986 - Carol Pope 1987 - Catheryn Cadacio
1988 – Richard Greaver
2025 – Isabella Gonzalez