John Flood, with the School of Music and Dance, was awarded the Outstanding Multicultural Music Educator by the California Music Educators Association Southern Border Section (CMEA-SBS).

Flood was recognized for his work with schools in the Madison High School Cluster, and is an artist-in-residence with the visual and performing arts in the San Diego Unified School District. He has developed a comprehensive world music program in K-12 schools in conjunction with the International House of Blues Foundation.

The award was presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego at the annual "Fortissimo" event in April. 

About Flood

Flood began his musical career at age eight with the study of piano. He continued with drums in his junior high marching band and has played drumset professionally since his early teens. Flood was the featured soloist with the San Diego Symphony under the direction of Jung Ho Pak in David Ward-Steinman's Millineum Dances in May 2000.

He has performed in theatrical presentations with the San Diego Repertory Theater and the La Jolla Playhouse. Flood has collaborated with various dance companies and choreographers in San Diego such Melissa Nunn, Allyson Green and toured with the John Malashock Dance Company and performance artist, comedian Andy Kaufman.

Flood performed as soloist with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic for the recording of composer David Ward-Steinman's CHROMA, Concerto for Multiple Keyboards, Percussion and Chamber Orchestra in August of 1998.

Flood has also recorded works by Robert Erickson, Will Ogdan and the La Jolla Symphony. He also records and performs with his band New Math. Flood was principle percussionist of the La Jolla Civic Orchestra and assistant director of the University of California, San Diego jazz big band with Jimmy Cheatham.

Flood has taught various music courses at Southwestern Community College and at Miramar Community College. He is the director of percussion in the School of Music and Dance, where he directs Fulcrum, the San Diego State Percussion Ensemble. He is also the director of HO-ASOGLI, the SDSU African ensemble, and co-director of the faculty new music ensemble.