Music teacher honored
John Gilchrist, director of instrumental music at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, was recognized this month by a state organization for achievement in music education.
Gilchrist, 28, won the 2024 Gilbert T. Freitas Annual Memorial Award from the California Music Educators Association, a professional organization representing the state’s 7,200 credentialed music educators. The award was presented Feb. 1 at the California All-State Music Education Conference in Sacramento.
Gilchrist, who earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from San Jose State University, is also the principal percussionist for the San Jose Wind Symphony and conductor of San Jose Youth Symphony percussion ensemble.
Council appointments
Cupertino City Council last month made appointments to several city committees and commissions.
Angela Chen was reappointed to the Audit Committee, and Eno Schmidt and Louise Fishler were named new members. Hanyan Wu and Luis Buhler were appointed as alternates. Carol Stanek was reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and Claudio Bono was named a new member. Sashikala Begur and Santosh Rao were appointed as alternates.
New housing commissioners include business representative Ryan Golze, community member Yuyi He and alternates Tessa Parish and Yvonne Thorstenson. Balaram Donthi and Sudeep Kumar were named to the Technology, Information and Communications Commission, with Ravi Kiran Singh Sapaharam and Venkatesan Ranganathan as alternates.
Three new members were named to the Sustainability Commission: business representative Alexander Fung, educational representative Susan Hansen and community member Conny Yang. Alternates are Sam Jew, Andrew Goldenkranz and Joseph Dan Marshall. There are also three new members of the Public Safety Commission: Sidharth Rajaram, Neal Evans and Nirmalendu Das. Alexander Fung was named the alternate.
Jean Bedord was appointed to the Sourcewise Advisory Council.
Other applicants’ information will be kept on file for a year in case a vacancy becomes available. Visit cupertino.org/commissions for more information.