Jorge Valls is a 2026 Dwyer Award Finalist and a distinguished music educator in his ninth year at Bak Middle School of the Arts. A graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University, Valls has built a reputation for excellence, leading choirs to first-place honors at national competitions and performances at Florida ACDA and Southern ACDA Region conferences. His conducting highlights include appearances at Carnegie Hall (2019) and the Meyerson Symphony Center (2026). Beyond the classroom, he is an active clinician and served as the Middle School R&R Chair for Florida ACDA. His leadership includes tenures with the Girl Choir of South Florida and Young Singers of the Palm Beaches. Valls is a member of NAfME, ACDA, FVA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and he is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of artistry in the Palm Beach community.