CBDA Service Award – 1984
CODA/NSOA Service Award – 1988
CBDA Friend of Music Education Award – 1994 (Now known as the Don Schmeer Friend of Music Award)
CMEA Outstanding Service to Music Educators Award – 1994
Who’s Who in American Business – 1994
After Byron Hoyt (the original owner of the store and close mentor to Don) passed away, Don helped create the Byron Hoyt Outstanding Music Educator Award (now the Don Schmeer-Byron Hoyt Band Educator Award), given annually to an exemplary instrumental music educator by CMEA-The California Association for Music Education at the annual state conference. In his spare time, Don was an aficionado of Asian art, food, and culture, was a rabid fan of the San Francisco 49ers football team, and was a trivia buff of “Casablanca”, a motion picture he dearly loved. After a long battle with cancer, Don passed away on July 19, 1994 and this scholarship fund was created in his memory.
The Don Schmeer Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 1996 by Bill Burke, Mark Troxell, and the late Dr. David Goedecke, is held in trust by the California Music Educators Association. The Fund provides support and encouragement for talented music students of limited financial means in grades 7-12. Awards are made to qualified students of CMEA members for summer music camp tuition and related expenses. In 2020, the fund was expanded to include the Don Schmeer Band Education Scholarship. Supporters of this fund include many individuals, music educators, schools, California Music Educators Association (CMEA), the California Band Directors Association (CBDA), and other entities and music organizations.
Tax deductible contributions to this Memorial Fund may be made by individuals, organizations, and businesses by credit card through the donate button on this page or by mailing check to:
CMEF Don Schmeer Scholarship Fund PO Box 359 Hanford, CA 93232
For more information please call the CMEA State Office and Trish Adams at (559) 904-2002 or email her at cmea@calmusiced.com. You may also donate through the California Band Directors Association (CBDA) Membership/Registration portal located on their website, https://www.cbda.org/.