Arts & Entertainment

Eureka High Orchestra Director Named Music Educator of Year

Congratulations to Patti Fleer for being the 2011-2012 Missouri state award recipient.

Patience (Patti) Fleer, orchestra director at , was named Outstanding Music Educator of the Year by the National Federation of State High School (NFHS) Music Association.

Each year, the association's members give this award to one recipient in each state. 

Fleer joined the faculty in 1994 where she now serves as music department chair at Eureka High in addition to being orchestra director there.

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According to information available from the Missouri State High School State Association's website, Fleer earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, where she studied violin. In 1981, she received a certificate in vocal performance at the Mozarteum Conservatory of Music in Salzburg, Austria. Fleer earned her master's degree in vocal pedagogy and performance at Webster University. In 1982, she began her teaching career with St. Clair School District, and served as adjunct music instructor at East Central College in Union, MO, from 1988 to 1993.   

Fleer is a member of various organizations:  Missouri American String Teachers Association (MoASTA), Missouri Music Educators Association, and the National Education Association. She served as past president of MoASTA, and chair of the Missouri All-State Orchestra Audition Committee and the MSHSAA Prescribed Music List Revision Committee. She also is an active adjudicator and clinician in Missouri.

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Eureka High orchestra groups travel to participate in nationally adjudicated competitions and consistently receive high ratings for their performances. The orchestra was invited and performed at the MMEA Convention in 2011. Fleer’s orchestra students regularly receive superior and excellent ratings at MSHSAA district and state music festivals. 

Fleer also co-founded and co-directs the Rockwood Intermediate Honors Orchestra.  


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