Amy Thiel, choral director at Oconto Falls High School, recently received the Educator of Excellence Award presented by the Nicolet Oconto Retired Teachers Association. She was selected by the teachers in the Oconto Falls School District.
Thiel graduated from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton with a Bachelor of Music degree, with a music education major, and earned a Master of Arts in Education degree from Marian University in Fond du Lac. In addition, she has earned numerous graduate credits from leading universities throughout the United States.
After teaching high school for two years in the Manitowoc area, Thiel accepted a position in the Oconto Falls School District, where she taught general music in grades 3-6, middle school choir and high school choir. She was hired by Bill LaChapell, Dan Strebig and Vic Rossetti.
After one year of teaching grades 3-12, one year of teaching grades 4-12 and seven years of teaching grades 6-12, the position became full-time choral music at Oconto Falls High School. She currently teaches chamber singers, concert choir, chorale and cantabile choirs, and a vocal jazz/madrigal ensemble. In addition, she co-directs the Oconto Falls High School musicals and coordinates the music department tours.
“I am so proud to teach choral music in the Oconto Falls School District,” Thiel said. “It is so rewarding to watch as each choral student develops into a more confident, caring and well-rounded individual. I truly believe that music makes a difference!”
Throughout her 30-year teaching career, Thiel has been involved in numerous community and professional music activities. Her choirs have performed at the Weidner Center of the Performing Arts, the Oconto Falls Friends of the Arts Fine Arts Series, the state Capitol and the BMO Bradley Center and have been featured on Fox 11’s Sounds of the Season.
They have also performed for the Avenue of Lights, the Lovelight Ceremony, Veteran’s Day and caroling in the community, and have participated in the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association Singing in Wisconsin Festival, WCDA All-State Choirs, North Central Division American Choral Directors Association Honors Choir and Wisconsin School Music Association Honors Program.
Thiel has earned many awards, including Oconto Falls Teacher of the Year in 1990, 1994 and 1997; the Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship for Teaching Excellence in 1997; the ACDA National Newsletter Award for Excellence in 2001; the Lawrence University Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 2001; and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013 from Bob Rogers Travel.
She has served as regional vice president and soundings editor for the WCDA, regional vice president of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, staff member for the WSMA State Honors Choir, choral director for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay music camps and Lakeland College music camps, and a member of the Department of Public Instruction Leadership Academy Team.
She has continued to serve as the president of the Oconto Falls Friends of the Arts since its inception in 2001 and coordinates the Fine Arts Series. Thiel was the founding director of the Green Bay Girl Choir and has been the choral director for Wisconsin’s Ambassadors of Music European Tours since 1994, traveling to England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. She has served as guest conductor for the WCDA Singing in Wisconsin Festivals and Honors Festivals throughout the state. She is a WSMA master adjudicator and is a member of WCDA, WMEA and the Voice Care Network.
