The Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA) has named Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Superintendent Paul Soma as the recipient of its “Outstanding Administrator Award” for 2018. The MMEA is a professional organization that provides advocacy, legislative support, professional development, competitions, and other services and opportunities to music educators and music students throughout the state of Michigan. Each year, the organization recognizes exemplary achievements in music education as part of the Michigan Music Conference (MMC), a multi-day event it helps sponsor each winter.
 
The Outstanding Administrator Award is meant to “recognize administrative support for music education.” Each year, the award goes to a superintendent or school administrator who has “demonstrated active, ongoing support for balanced music programs.” The MMEA praised Soma for his “continued support for music education in Traverse City, which provides a model for districts across Michigan to emulate.”
 
Soma will receive the award at a reception during the MMC, scheduled for 4pm on January 25 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Numerous TCAPS students and staff members will be present at the conference as well, to perform in concerts or present educational sessions.
 
“To say I am humbled by this honor is an understatement,” Soma said in a TCAPS press release announcing the award. “The reality is I am fortunate to work for a school system that places a high value on music instruction, has incredibly talented staff, and intentionally works to vertically align the curriculum K-12. As a result, our students are recognized as the best of the best. It is easy to be a champion for that.”

Soma's tenure as TCAPS Superintendent will end this summer.