Rockwood Orchestra Teacher Nominated as Top Performer

Michael Blackwood, an orchestra teacher in the Rockwood School District, will be honored June 9 at the 14th Annual Best Performance Awards for Community Musical Theatre on June 9, according to a news release from the school district. 

More than 875 participants were eligible for nominations this year. 

Blackwood’s nomination is for Best Music Direction for the musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, by Alpha Players of Florissant.

For the last three years, Blackwood has taught strings classes to Rockwood students. This year, he travels to Lafayette High, Marquette  High, Rockwood Summit, Rockwood Valley Middle, Selvidge Middle and LaSalle Springs Middle for classes.

Joseph Gutowski, director of orchestras at Lafayette, described Blackwood as a fine musician and teacher. “Michael’s ability to work with musicians both in community theater and in the classroom is phenomenal,” said Gutowski, in the news release. 

“I have played for Michael in musical pit orchestras in the past and I know he is always prepared for rehearsals and meticulous in how he conducts the show. The entire cast and crew of every musical he is involved with is confident the tempos will be consistent, and that Michael will lead the orchestra with precision and dedication.”

The Best Performance Awards for Community Musical Theatre will be presented at 2 p.m. June 9 at the Mildred E. Bastian Center for the Performing Arts at Forest Park Community College. The event will include performances from the 11 musicals nominated.