MIAMI BEACH SENIOR HIGH TEACHER WINS
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FROM FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY


June 3, 2004


Doug Burris, a music teacher at Miami Beach Senior High, has been awarded the Opperman Citation for Outstanding Accomplishment in Teaching and Leadership by the faculty at Florida State University's School of Music.

Burris, who has been teaching at Beach High since 1971, founded and directs the school's rock and guitar ensembles. In 1999, the Rock Ensemble performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, where it received a plaque for "Rockin' the Planet Since 1972."

Beach High's Guitar Ensemble has established itself as one of the premier high school musical performing groups in the United States. In 2001, the group was awarded a grant by the State of Florida and the cities of Miami and Miami Beach that enabled it to travel to Japan to perform and participate in the International Peace Summit in Kagoshima with groups from Australia, Italy, China and Japan.

Among his other recognitions, Burris was recipient of the National Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Award in 2003. For additional information, contact Doug Burris at 305-532-4515.

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04-MV/215/TE

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