The 2017 recipient is Neal Smith.

Congratulations to our first winner! 

Tom Lizotte, MJA member wrote this about Neal:

"Neil may be the closest I know to Frankie's spirit.|I have known Neil for almost 40 years and have worked with him in a variety of professional settings.

The work he did with North Star, in particular, was very much in Frankie's spirit. He wrote very well, but -- more important -- assembled and led a team of professional and positive teachers.

Like Frank, Neil has great positive energy about the activity. They share the knack of being spot-on in an analytical sense, but never losing sight of the fact that there are humans behind those instruments, field implements and designs. Both understand the spiritual power of the marching arts and are keepers of that flame.

Neil taught and wrote well in DCA, was the heart of North Star, was a mainstay for Boston in some lean years, judges DCA and marching band at a high level and has made an outstanding contribution to New England high school bands.

Frankie would be proud to see Neil Smith as a Frankie Award recipient."