By the time the final note fades at Butler Middle School’s holiday concert, students weren’t the only ones glowing with pride. Standing at the front of the auditorium was Enrique Tellez, whose own recognition was announced. 

Tellez, Butler’s band and orchestra teacher, has been named a Yamaha 40 under 40 Music Educator for 2026, an honor awarded to 40 teachers nationwide who demonstrate excellence, innovation and leadership in music education.

“At first, it didn’t hit me as being a big deal until I told my boss and he kind of freaked out,” Tellez said. “He said, ‘That’s a world brand, dude.’”

The recognition came as a surprise. His nomination was submitted by Albion Middle School Director Jenni Perkins in collaboration with Bertrand’s Music, a Midvale music store. 

Perkins, who directs Canyons Youth Symphony alongside Tellez, praised his advocacy for students.

“Enrique is focused on the whole student,” she said in the nomination. “He does everything he can to make sure the students are OK, that they are happy, safe and learning things.”

Tellez’s path to teaching was not a direct one. Growing up in St. George, he began playing his mother’s clarinet in sixth grade, but he never intended to be a music director. 

“For the longest time in high school, I planned on going to culinary school,” he said. “Music was something I did on the side for fun.”

After working in a professional kitchen, Tellez realized the job lacked the personal connection he values.

“I had cooked for family, for friends and hosted gatherings, but cooking in a kitchen was different. You cook a meal and you put it on a shelf, then others carry it out. I didn't enjoy just cooking and not getting to see the full enjoyment of people liking it,” he said.

Tellez considered quitting band when a renewed interest in music was sparked.

“I decided I wasn't going to play anymore, but over the summer, I went to a wedding in California for an uncle of mine, and he had this live band. I saw a tuba, technically a sousaphone, but the player was playing and dancing, and the instrument was shining. I thought it was really cool, and I could get into that,” he said.

That led Tellez to switch to playing tuba and string bass and eventually an audition at Utah State University, where he received the Caine Scholars for Excellence scholarship. As he began performing professionally at age 19, he envisioned a career in music performance.

“Before I finished my undergrad, I had to do student teaching. I wanted nothing to do with junior high; I had a rough junior high experience myself and thought the kids are the worst. But my college band director, who was the education liaison, suggested I observe an excellent junior high band director,” Tellez said.

That experience changed everything.

“By the end of it, I fell in love with teaching,” he said. “Seeing the kids grow and learn is really fulfilling.”

Tellez has been at Butler Middle since January 2017, where he oversees 10 classes of band and orchestra, along with percussion ensemble and jazz band, while continuing as a freelance musician. About one-third of Butler’s student body participates in his program.

Known for high expectations and genuine care, he often tells his students, “Effort and focus are two things we can all control,” a phrase that has become central to his teaching and learning philosophy. As his students become dedicated and strive for excellence, it often results in the superior ratings Butler’s ensembles earn at district and state festivals.

Tellez also prioritizes recruitment and outreach, visiting elementary schools creating videos and materials to introduce students to music.

“During COVID (when he was honored as Butler Middle’s Teacher of the Year), I wasn’t able to visit the elementary schools,” he remembered, so he decided to create a video for them introducing the music program.

For Tellez, awards are secondary to student relationships.

“Ultimately, I hope to teach them how to be excellent at anything they choose to do in their lives,” he said. “The sense of fulfillment from these student connections makes it worth it to me.”