Washington State University professor Danh Pham has received the 2024 Governor’s Arts and Heritage Educator Award during a recent celebration organized by the Washington State Arts Commission in Olympia.

Pham is the director of bands and orchestras at WSU, overseeing the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Opera and Musical Theatre, as well as the Cougar Summer Music Camp. He also directs the Washington-Idaho Symphony Orchestra and the Coeur D’Alene Symphony Orchestra.

Pham expressed his commitment to education, stating, “I’m a teacher at heart, so my passion is still with teaching young people.” He emphasized the significance of the annual young artists’ competitions, which he considers a highlight of the year, as they showcase emerging talent.

His conducting experience spans internationally, including positions at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music, the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra, and various ensembles throughout the Pacific Northwest, American Southwest, Texas, and Hawaii.

The Governor’s Arts and Heritage Awards, overseen by the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), honor significant contributions to the arts and cultural landscape of Washington state. The Arts Awards were initiated in 1966, with the Heritage Awards established in 1989.