San Diego Winds
Music Parent Hall of Fame

Behind every great music program are people whose names may not appear on the concert poster, but whose love, service, and devotion make the music possible.

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They are the parents, boosters, volunteers, and community members who show up early, stay late, feed students, organize trips, raise funds, mend uniforms, move equipment, comfort nervous performers, celebrate milestones, and help create the memories students carry for the rest of their lives.

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The San Diego Winds Music Parent Hall of Fame was created to honor these extraordinary individuals.

Each year, San Diego Winds presents the Jodienne Golden Light Award to a music parent or volunteer whose quiet leadership and generous service have brought light into the lives of young musicians and strengthened the music education community.

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About the Award

 

The Jodienne Golden Light Award recognizes those whose service often happens outside the spotlight, but whose work is essential to the life of a music program.

This award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to young musicians through volunteer service, parent leadership, booster involvement, mentorship, advocacy, hospitality, fundraising, or long-term support of school and community music programs.

The physical award is a small, elegant black music stand illuminated by a golden stand light. The music stand represents the support these volunteers provide. The light represents the warmth, care, and possibility they bring to students, programs, and communities.

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Why “Golden Light”?

 

The name Golden Light reflects the spirit of the award: honoring those who help young people see what is possible, feel supported, and step into the joy of making music.

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These honorees may not always stand in the spotlight themselves, but they help create the conditions for students to shine.

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Through their work, students travel, perform, grow, belong, and remember. Their light lives on in every concert, every friendship, every life changed by music, and every young person who discovers that they are part of something larger than themselves.

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Honoring Jodienne

 

The award is named in honor of Jodienne, whose decades of service represent the very best of music parent leadership.

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Jodienne served as a dedicated music parent, booster, volunteer, and longtime supporter of San Diego Winds. Her work was often quiet and behind the scenes, but its impact was enormous. She gave her time, energy, wisdom, and care to help young musicians and the organizations that serve them.

From helping feed students in the early years of the San Diego Summer Music Institute to providing steady leadership and support for San Diego Winds, Jodienne’s example reminds us that music education is sustained not only by those on stage, but by those whose love and service make the stage possible.

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Inaugural Honoree

 

San Diego Winds is proud to recognize Jodienne as the inaugural inductee into the San Diego Winds Music Parent Hall of Fame and the first recipient of the Jodienne Golden Light Award.

Her example will guide this tradition for years to come.

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The Spirit of the Award

 

The Jodienne Golden Light Award is not only a recognition of past service. It is also a statement about what San Diego Winds believes.

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We believe music programs are built by communities.

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We believe parent leaders and volunteers deserve to be seen, thanked, and celebrated.

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We believe the people who serve behind the scenes are often the heart of the entire enterprise.

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And we believe that when we honor these people publicly, we help inspire a new generation of volunteers to step forward and continue the work.

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Nominate a Music Parent or Volunteer

 

San Diego Winds welcomes nominations for future inductees into the Music Parent Hall of Fame.

Ideal nominees may include booster presidents, parent volunteers, trip organizers, fundraising leaders, hospitality coordinators, uniform managers, longtime advocates, or any individual whose service has made a meaningful difference in the lives of young musicians.

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If you know someone whose love, leadership, and service have brought light to a music program, we invite you to share their story by emailing info@sdwinds.org

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Nominations for 2027 will open in January.