Heritage Festivals have recognized Inglemoor High band director Ted Christensen as an outstanding music educator.

Under the direction of Christensen, Inglemoor’s wind symphony received high marks in the 2011 San Diego Heritage Festival, and an invitation to participate at the Festival of Gold, an Elite Performance Series invitational event held at some of our nation’s most recognized concert halls in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. The group brought home a Gold Award and an Adjudicators Award. In addition, Inglemoor’s orchestra and jazz band, under the direction of orchestra director James Rice, also received high marks, with Gold, Outstanding Orchestra and Adjudicators Awards at the same event along with an invitation to the Festival of Gold. All three groups won the Festival Sweepstakes Award in recognition of their outstanding performance at the event.

For more than 25 years, Christensen and his music students have successfully participated at seven Heritage Festivals across the country. His performing bands win outstanding awards at these festivals year after year.

Christensen has been a music educator for 30 years and has been teaching at Inglemoor for the past 28 years. He currently teaches more than 200 students in wind ensemble, orchestra and marching band programs. In addition to his teaching, he served as the president of the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) from 2000-2002 and adjudicates at nationally held Heritage Festivals’ events by invitation. Christensen is a recipient of the PTSA Golden Acorn Award. In 2004, Christensen was recognized by the WMEA for his outstanding music career achievements and was inducted in the WMEA Hall of Fame. Christensen received his undergraduate degree from Seattle Pacific University in 1981 and masters of education degree from the Lesley University in 1991.