EMILY KALKA
Staff writer
A 40-year legacy culminated in recognition that was a long time coming on Jan. 30.
Standing under the colorful dome in the State Capitol Building in Oklahoma City, Chandler music teacher Jana Telford was one of 14 individuals and four organizations who received Governor’s Arts Awards, bestowed by Gov. J. Kevin Stitt himself.
This is the 45th year that the Oklahoma Arts Council has handed out the awards, honoring people and organizations in art education and other areas.
“For more than four decades, the governor of the state of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Arts Council have honored hundreds of Oklahomans who, through their investment in time, effort and resources, have made significant contributions that have impacted our communities and our schools through the arts,” said Tracy Chapman, the chair of the Oklahoma Arts Council and emcee for the event.
Telford was one of five who received the Arts in Education Award. It recognizes an individual, organization or school educator for their outstanding leadership and service in the arts, benefitting youth or arts education, according to Amber Sharples, executive director of the Oklahoma Arts Council.
The others were Dwe Williams, Marcelle Sharron Ahtone Harjo, Penny McGill and Trey Hays.
A group of former and current teachers and students from Chandler, as well as some residents, attended the ceremony to show support for Mrs. Telford, including her daughter, Jamee Telford. Jamee said she’s proud of her mother, who has spent her life sharing her love of music and inspiring so many students.
“Even after retiring, she couldn’t stay away and still plays the piano for the choir,” Jamee said. “She is not one to seek any recognition, and it was just awesome to see her receive such a prestigious award from the governor and Arts Council.”
Jana Telford began teaching music in Chandler in 1969 and has worked at the elementary school, junior high and high school. She currently serves as the accompanist for the junior high and high school music programs, having retired from fulltime teaching.
In a previous interview with The Lincoln County News, Telford said that she has enjoyed teaching kids to love music over the years.
“I loved teaching them to love music while we were learning what I called the language of music,” she said.
Whether or not her students chose to make music their vocation, Telford appreciated watching them perform and still have a love of singing and learning about music.
Telford said she was shocked when she found out she had received the award months ago from Joel Gavin, the director of marketing and communications at the Oklahoma Arts Council.
“I had no idea I was nominated for it. I mean, I was just in shock, and I said, ‘Are you sure?’... And he said, ‘Oh, yes,’ and he was very nice,” she said.
Other award recipients are Ann Barker Ong and Holbrook Lawson for the Governor’s Arts Award, American Fidelity and LEAP Coffee Roasters for the Earl Sneed Business in the Arts Award, Ryan LaCroix for the Bill Crawford Memorial Media in the Arts Award, Darcy Reeves, Selby Minner, Susan E. Brackett and Suzanne Boles for the Community Service Award, Sen. Kevin Matthews and Rep. Mark McBride for the George Nigh Public Service in the Arts Award, and Mid-America Arts Alliance and Oklahoma Museums Association for the Special Recognition Award.