March 24, 2022

USC teacher honored with Outstanding Music Educator Award

Christine Hestwood, Upper St. Clair’s middle school strings teacher and high school orchestra conductor, was recently selected to receive the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. She will be recognized at the PYPO concert on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at Soldiers & Sailors Hall in Oakland.

Ms. Hestwood joined the Upper St. Clair faculty in 1996. In addition to her role as a music teacher, she serves as the music director at Westminster Presbyterian Church and conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Hamlisch-Page Student Choir.

One aspect of teaching music that Ms. Hestwood enjoys most is the opportunity to witness students’ growth and improvement over time.

“I enjoy seeing students grow from year to year,” she said. “It was wonderful to conduct this year's musical pit. I was able to work with students whom I hadn't worked with since they were in fourth grade.”

She holds a bachelor’s degree in voice and music education from Duquesne University as well as a master’s degree in conducting from Carnegie Mellon University.

The mission of the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra is to educate, inspire and foster a life-long love of music. Each season, PYPO presents three major performances, community outreach concerts, summer camps, chamber ensembles, an annual Concerto Competition, and Student Conductor Competition. The students who comprise PYPO are drawn from more than 36 school districts, numerous private schools and home-schooled musicians throughout the tri-state area.