The Jazz Education Award (JEA) was created in 2012 by the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society (STJS) Jazz Education committee with financial support from the STJS Foundation. The award honors Sacramento area jazz musicians and music educators who have a long, consistent history of providing and supporting traditional jazz education.
Sacramento State University Jazz Studies director and Trad Jazz Youth Band Festival (TJYBF) director Dr. Steve Roach, presented this award during the evening Showcase of the TJYBF (a JEN & CAJ school festival partner). In addition to the award plaque, the recipient also received a $500 cash grant from the STJS Foundation.
Previous award recipients include inaugural recipient Celia Cottle, private instructor and owner of J Street Studios in Davis, CA (2012) and River City High School band director Felicia Weatherly in West Sacramento, CA (2014). 2017 JEA recipient Craig Faniani taught music for more than 25 years in the San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD), mostly leading the award-winning jazz ensembles at Rio Americano High School.
Band director Josh Murray credits Faniani as the “architect” of the current Rio band program. Faniani’s long list of accolades include SJUSD and Sacramento County Teacher of the Year; “Music of the Heart” Award; Outstanding Administrator Award by the CMEA (CA Music Education Association) and many oth
