Palm Beach Symphony Names Christopher M. De León as 2025 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year

Christopher M. De León, Director of Jazz Studies at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, has been named the 2025 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year by Palm Beach Symphony. He was recognized during the Symphony’s Ninth Annual Holly Jolly Symphony Fête.

"Outside of overseeing Palm Beach Symphony, my biggest role is that of dad,” said Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont. “My own children have been involved in music and dance, so I carry not only a professional respect for arts educators, but a deep personal appreciation for the impact they make. Thank you, Christopher, for what you do at Dreyfoos and the immense influence you have beyond the classroom.” 

During the ceremony, De León received a plaque and gift basket of indulgences. His school will receive coaching sessions and/or masterclasses by Palm Beach Symphony musicians during the spring semester; a classroom visit and coaching by Palm Beach Symphony Music Director Gerard Schwarz; an invitation for a student music ensemble to perform at a Symphony event; and complimentary tickets for the teacher and students to attend a Masterworks concert. The 2025 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year Award was supported by Florida Power & Light and Carol S. and Joseph Andrew Hays, and Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf.

“It is our great joy and honor to name Christopher as the 2025 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year,” said Maestro Schwarz on behalf of the Symphony. “From one music educator to another, I give him my heartfelt congratulations and praise him for educating, engaging and inspiring the next generation of musicians.”

De León is a dedicated educator with a career spanning 20 years, 16 of which have been spent in public school music education. He has a passion for jazz music and an unwavering commitment to nurturing and developing the highest potential within each of his students.

“Being named Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year is an honor. It’s gratifying to be recognized for the work I do in the classroom and the lives I try to change,” De León said with gratitude. “I wasn’t expecting it. I was nominated by two parents, so it’s a big surprise. Teaching is a calling. When I was a teenager, I helped my peers and discovered how much I enjoyed teaching. I did a lot of teaching during my college years, and I just fell in love with it, so it’s what I’ve been pursuing for my whole life. It’s about more than just teaching but also getting the kids to strive for excellence in all aspects of their lives. Teaching something that’s an art, requires students to be social and interactive with other human beings, and to express themselves in an expressive way through music is really important.”

Throughout his tenure as a jazz educator, De León’s ensembles have consistently earned national acclaim across a wide range of musical styles. His dedication to fostering each student’s growth through ambitious performance goals has led his groups to perform on many of the nation’s most prestigious stages. Under his leadership, his jazz ensembles have been recognized as five-time national finalists at the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival (2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025), including being named the Honorable Mention (4th Place) Jazz Ensemble in 2025. His groups have also achieved top honors as national finalists at the Swing Central Jazz Festival (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020), received multiple DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards (2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025), and earned first place at both the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival (2015) and the National Jazz Festival (2022).

Beyond the classroom, De León is committed to giving back to the jazz education community as much as possible. He has served as a guest clinician and conductor for the Pasco and Pinellas County All-District Jazz Ensembles, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Regional Competitions and will serve as the 2027 Florida All-State Middle School Jazz Band conductor. He is also a contributing author to the worldwide jazz education publication Teaching Music through Performance in Jazz, Volume 3 (GIA Publications), a globally recognized resource for jazz educators.

In addition to his success in jazz, De León has led concert and marching ensembles to remarkable achievements, including top honors at festivals held in Carnegie Hall and Atlanta Symphony Hall, a Florida Marching Band Coalition Class 5A State Championship (2011), eight Bands of America Regional Championships (2012–2019), a Bands of America Grand National Championship (2014) and a featured performance in the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Believing that the most impactful learning experiences come through mentorship with world-class professionals, De León regularly connects his students with leading jazz artists and educators. His ensembles have shared the stage with renowned musicians such as Terell Stafford, Marcus Printup, Wycliffe Gordon, Scotty Barnhart, Ron Blake, Sherman Irby, Bob Reynolds, Jason Marsalis, Rodney Whitaker, Valery Ponomarev, Buster Cooper, Dave Stryker, John Lamb and Tatum Greenblatt.

At the heart of De León’s philosophy is a deep belief in the transformative power of music education. He views jazz as a uniquely human art form that cultivates creativity, discipline, teamwork and perseverance. Jazz teaches students to listen, collaborate and improvise with authenticity—skills that translate beyond the bandstand into every aspect of life. These experiences help shape students into empathetic, confident and well-rounded individuals prepared to face the challenges of the world with integrity and imagination.

De León is happily married to his wife, Traci, a mathematics teacher at Dreyfoos, and is a proud father to his daughter Alyssa (13) and sons Julian (8) and Jonathan (6).   

About Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year Award

Each year since 2018, students, parents, colleagues and members of the community are invited to nominate an extraordinary music teacher for Palm Beach Symphony’s Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year Award. Nominees must have an outstanding instructional technique; ability to nurture, connect with and inspire students; be active in the community as a performing arts educator; display an exemplary history of work as a music educator and leader; and demonstrate an ability to successfully transfer knowledge, passion and love of music to students. To be eligible, nominees must be a K-12 educator in a public, private or charter school in Palm Beach County with a minimum of three years of experience as a band or orchestra instructor and meet standards of professional and ethical conduct, as well as demonstrate respect and integrity in working with students, parents and colleagues. A panel of expert judges comprised of esteemed musicians, industry professionals and educators in Palm Beach County review applications and select the winner.

For more information and to see a complete list of previous winners, go to PalmBeachSymphony.org. Nominations for the 2026 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year Award will open in August 2026 and will be awarded during the 10th Annual Holly Jolly Symphony Fête in December 2026.

Palm Beach Symphony’s education programs are made possible through support from The Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Music, Ray K. Farris, The McNulty Charitable Foundation, James R. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui / FINDLAY Galleries, Herbert H. and Barbara C. Dow Foundation, Mr. William Robertson, Charles Frederick Schmidt, The Annette Urso Rickel Foundation, Edith Hall Friedheim/Eric Friedheim Foundation, PNC Foundation, The Walter & Adi Blum Foundation, Inc., James H. and Marta T. Batmasian Family Foundation Inc., Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation Inc., Komansky Foundation, Josephine DuPont Bayard, Yvonne S. Boice Trust and Al Zucaro, and Lois Pope, with additional funding from Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Arts and Cultural Education Fund, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Proud sponsors of Palm Beach Symphony include Cindy and Jerome Canty, Mrs. James N. Bay, Carol and Harold Baxter, C. Kenneth and Laura Baxter Foundation, Inc., Kathy Lee Bickham and John Bickham, Leslie Rogers Blum, Je?rey and Tina Bolton, James R. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui / FINDLAY Galleries, Jerome J. Claeys, Thomas and Carol Bruce, Amy and John T. Collins, The Colony Hotel, Suzanne Mott Dansby, The David Minkin Foundation, Michelle DuBois and James Roiter, Ray K. Farris, Mary and Will Demory, Herbert H. and Barbara C. Dow Foundation,  Willard H. Dow and Kelly Winter, Dr. Richard and Diane Farber, Bill and Kem Frick/The Frick Foundation, Inc., Edith Hall Friedheim/Eric Friedheim Foundation, Gerry Gibian and Marjorie Yashar, Paul* and Sandra Goldner, Douglas and Jo Gressette, Irwin and Janet Gusman, Walter Harper, Thomas E. Harvey & Cathleen P. Black Foundation, Doris Hastings Foundation, Carol S. and Joseph Andrew Hays, John Herrick, Addison Hines Charitable Trust, Lisa and George Hines, HSS Florida, Charles and Ann Johnson/The C and A Johnson Family Foundation, Elaine Kay, Aban and Percy Kavasmaneck, Leonard and Norma Klor?ne Foundation, The Kovner Foundation, Gary and Linda Lachman/The Lachman Family Foundation, Patricia Lambrecht/The Lambrecht Family Foundation, Donald C. McGraw Foundation, The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, The McNulty Charitable Foundation, Tish Messinger, David Moscow, Palm Beach Design Masters, Park Foundation, Patrick and Milly Park, Nancy and Ellis J. Parker, III, PNC Private Bank, Lois Pope, Provident Jewelry, Ari Rifkin/The Len-Ari Foundation, Dr. Martha Rodriguez and Dr. Jesus Perez-Mendez, Annette Urso Rickel Foundation, Karen Hunt Rogers, The Honorable Ronald A. Rosenfeld, David Schafer, Seth Sprague Foundation, Robin B. Smith, Kimberly V. Strauss, Don and Mary Thompson, Jerome and Carol Trautschold, Sieglinde Wikstrom/The Wikstrom Foundation, and The Ann Eden Woodward Foundation/James and Judy Woods.

*Deceased

ABOUT PALM BEACH SYMPHONY

Palm Beach Symphony is South Florida’s premier orchestra known for its diverse repertoire and commitment to community. Founded in 1974, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization adheres to a mission of engaging, educating, and entertaining the greater community of the Palm Beaches through live performances of inspiring orchestral music. The orchestra is celebrated for delivering spirited performances by first-rate musicians and distinguished guest artists. Recognized by The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County with a 2020 Muse Award for Outstanding Community Engagement, Palm Beach Symphony continues to expand its education and community outreach programs with children’s concerts, student coaching sessions and master classes, instrument donations and free public concerts that have reached more than 90,000 students in recent years. For more information, visit www.palmbeachsymphony.org.