June 14, 2025

Kennett Symphony Board of Directors President Timothy Blair has received another honor, this one from the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association. He was honored earlier this year by the Music Teachers National Association.

The PMTA Distinguished Service Award came during the association’s 2025 conference, Rising Together: Building collaborative pathways to music, held June 7 at Lycoming College. A press release said the award is given to “individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and service to PMTA and the broader music education community across the Commonwealth.”

Blair is reluctant to talk about himself or his accomplishments and did not respond to a request for comment. Likewise, Kennett Symphony Music Director Michael Hall was unavailable for comment. But Symphony Board of Directors Vice President Colin Hanna did comment, saying Blair is more than deserving of the award.

“Anyone who knows Tim Blair knows that he is distinguished in several fields, but the best part of this award is its second word: service,” Hanna said. “He is a servant leader, always seeking to help and develop others. This award recognizes that quality.”

Hanna was previously quoted in the press release announcing the award as saying, “What a perfectly named award. Tim Blair is a distinguished gentleman, a distinguished musician, and a distinguished teacher. It’s an honor that is well deserved.”

While neither Blair nor Hall responded to requests for comment, the press release included one from West Chester University’s Igor Resnianski, who wrote a letter of support for Blair’s nomination for the award. He wrote:

“Dr. Blair is an extremely caring teacher, a hardworking musician and clinician, and a visionary leader who has served our profession with distinction for decades.”

Blair is a Steinway Artist, dean and professor emeritus at West Chester University, and serves on the board of several esteemed arts organizations, including the GRAMMY Award-winning ensemble The Crossing. His work with Steinway Asia Pacific, his international adjudication roles, and his leadership as founding dean of multiple colleges at WCU have made him a distinguished figure in the global music community.

For more information about Blair or Kennett Symphony’s upcoming performances, please visit www.kennettsymphony.org