The Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) is pleased to announce that John Versluis, Geneseo High School (GHS) Band Director, has been named the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) Music Teacher Award winner in the 2025-2026 school year! Mr. Versluis was nominated by current band parent, Nicole Freadhoff, who volunteers in the program and has had a student in the band program for more than 7 years.
Nicole nominated John because “It’s easy to see John cares a lot about his students and their music education.”
Nicole highlighted the ways John goes above and beyond in the classroom, including providing his students with meaningful performance experiences and opportunities to receive feedback from professional adjudicators with annual events such as the Maple Leaf Classic, Solo & Ensemble Festival, and ILMEA. He also encourages his students to professionally record auditions in the Geneseo Performing Arts Center and finds creative ways to make concerts fun by hosting Halloween and holiday concerts where students are encouraged to dress up (even their instruments). He also recruits new students at the annual “Recorder Concert” with fun and engaging concert programming with familiar songs and inviting audience engagement, such as passing around a beach ball as a finale to the concert.
Chelsea Sammons, QCSO Director of Education and Community Engagement, said that “Mr. Versluis has identified creative and relevant ways to connect with students which then helps them connect more with their band experience. As one of his former band students, I know how well he communicates the meaning behind a piece to students and gives them the tools to communicate with their audience through music. There were countless opportunities that Mr. Versluis selected repertoire with a powerful story and made time in class to learn more about the meaning of music.”
John will be recognized at a Masterworks IV: The Rite of Spring on Saturday, February 7 at 7:30 PM at the Adler Theatre. He will receive two Masterworks subscriptions for the 2026-2027 season and a special commemorative award created and designed by students in the STEAM on Wheels program as a thank you for his dedication to his students.
The award committee consisted of the following individuals:
Hisham Bravo Groover, QCSYE Music Director
Chelsea Sammons, Director of Education and Community Engagement
Archana Wagle, QCSO Board of Trustees Education Chair
Kendra Elledge, Davenport Central High School Orchestra Teacher and QCSO Board of Trustees Education Committee Member
Nicolas Propes, North Scott Junior High Band Teacher
Applications for next school year begin in late August and conclude in October.
ABOUT THE QUAD CITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra, based in Davenport, IA, is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the Quad Cities region by performing high-quality, live symphonic music that engages and entertains audiences. With a rich history dating back over a century, the QCSO continues to be a pillar of the arts in the community, showcasing world-class talent and fostering a love for classical music.