WELCOME TO THE CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARDS, CELEBRATING MUSIC TEACHERS ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK.

MUSIC EDUCATION PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SCHOOLS AND IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN, NURTURING CREATIVITY, COGNITIVE SKILLS, AND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION.

AN ADEPT MUSIC TEACHER GOES BEYOND IMPARTING MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE; THEY INSTILL CONFIDENCE, COOPERATION, AND COMPASSION IN THEIR STUDENTS.

THIS HARMONIOUS BLEND OF TECHNICAL PROWESS AND LIFE SKILLS MAKES MUSIC EDUCATION A VITAL COMPONENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF WELL-ROUNDED ADULTS.

DURING THE 2022/2023 SCHOOL YEAR, TEN HONOREES AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK RECEIVED THE CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEDICATION TO MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE NOMINATED BY THEIR STUDENTS, COLLEAGUES, AND COMMUNITIES; AND ALL OF US ARE THANKFUL FOR THEIR ROLE IN MOLDING CHILDREN'S HEARTS AND MINDS.

THESE ARE OUR TEACHERS, AND THEY ARE SHAPING OUR FUTURE.

THE FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD IN SEPTEMBER 2022 WAS MAGGIE DOUGHERTY, FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT LEADER AND CHORAL TEACHER AT CAZENOVIA CENTRAL SCHOOLS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TALKING AWAY... >> ORIGINALLY WE HAD JUST THOUGHT WE WERE PLAYING FOR A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AND THEY WOULD RECORD US.

WE EXPECTED THAT AND PREPARED VIGOROUSLY.

THEN, OF COURSE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE SEE THIS LOVELY MAN RIGHT HERE BRINGING IN AN AWARD FOR OUR GREAT Ms. DOUGHERTY AND ALL I CAN SAY IS IT WAS QUITE THE SURPRISE.

ONE NO ONE SAW COMING ♪ ♪ TAKE ON ME... >> Ms. DOUGHERTY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.

SHE IS INCREDIBLY TALENTED, DEDICATED AND CARES ABOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF HER STUDENTS.

THE BIGGEST THING SHE HAS TAUGHT ME IS HONESTLY TO FIND GENUINE ENJOYMENT IN THE CREATION OF MUSIC BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING MORE MAGICAL OR HONESTLY BEAUTIFUL TO PRODUCE SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.

♪ ♪ ♪ MY WORRIES AWAY ♪ >> AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND IT STARTS IN THE ARTS.

IT IS A TOOL FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO COPE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE ON THE LAST KOWAL OF YEARS.

ALTHOUGH SOME OF THEM WILL GO ON TO PURSUE CAREERS IN MUSIC, THAT'S NOT THE PLAN FOR MANY OF THEM.

AND I HOPE THAT THEY ALL HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR THE PROCESS AND THE ART AND MOST OF ALL, JUST HAVE THAT TOOL TO BE ABLE TO USE IT WHEN THEY NEED IT AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

♪ ♪ >> IT'S EASY TO FORGET WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE AND THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE GET TO SHARE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WITH YOUNG ADULTS IN HOPES THAT THEY WILL GO ON INTO THE WORLD AND SHARE SOME KIND OF APPRECIATION OR SOME KIND OF KNOWLEDGE OFF WHAT HAVE WE DO AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO HAPPY AND EXCITED TO COME INTO WORK EVERY DAY AND I, YOU KNOW, THE MATH TEACHERS AND ALL THAT STUFF, I'M SURE THAT'S FUN, TOO, BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE IT'S AS FUN AS THIS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO Ms. DOUGHERTY.

♪ OH THEY TELL ME THERE'S A HOME... OUR OCTOBER 2022 HONOREE WAS SHAWN HEBERT, MUSIC DIRECTOR AT FAYETTEVILLE-MANLIUS HIGH SCHOOL.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE HIM GET THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF MUSIC UNTIL I STARTED SINGING WITH Mr. HEBERT.

MUSIC LETS YOU FEEL SO MANY DIFFERENT EMOTIONS AND HOW HE INCORPORATED MUSIC INTO OUR LIVES.

DEFINITELY MADE ME FEEL A LOT.

THEY TELL ME OF A HOLE ♪ THEY TELL ME OF THE LAND FARAWAY I THINK FOR A LOT OF THESE KIDS, THE CHOIR ROOM IS WHERE THEY FEEL THE MOST COMFORTABLE.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT EVERYBODY, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE KIDS, THAT'S THEIR HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

AND WHEN SOMETHING GREAT HAPPENS, THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO CELEBRATE IT AND WHEN SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS, THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO GET SOLACE FROM EACH OTHER.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO HAVE AN EMOTIONAL OUTLET AND TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THOSE EMOTIONS.

I THINK IT'S GREAT TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PERIOD IN THE DAY WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS ABOUT US WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS SOMETHING AND TRYING TO MAKE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VERSION OF THAT THAT WE CAN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I THINK THAT'S THE THING THAT I HOPE THEY REMEMBER.

THEY'RE ALL UNIQUE.

THEY ALL BRING DIFFERENT THINGS BUT THAT THEY ALL MAKE THE WORLD BETTER WITH WHAT THEY DO.

♪ ♪ CONGRATULATIONS, MR. HEBERT!

THE HONOREE FOR NOVEMBER 2022 WAS KAREN SEAMANS, BAND DIRECTOR AT CICERO-NORTH SYRACUSE HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I HOPE THESE KIDS GET OUT OF MARCHING BAND BEYOND JUST THE MUSICAL EXPERIENCES AND ONE OF THEM IS YOUR LIFE SKILLS THAT ARE GOING TO SERVE THEM LATER ON IN LIFE EVEN IF THEY NEVER TOUCH THEIR INSTRUMENT AGAIN AFTER THEY GRADUATE.

THINGS LIKE RESPONSIBILITY, BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

BEING TRUE TO YOUR WORD, MAKING A COMMITMENT AND SHOWING UP TO YOUR COMMITMENT.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS ARE WHY EMPLOYERS LIKE TO HIRE MARCHING BAND KIDS BECAUSE THEY LEARN THOSE THINGS IN MARCHING BAND AND THOSE THINGS APPLY TO EVERYTHING, NOT JUST MUSIC.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED OUT, WE WERE PRETTY SMALL AND WERE NOT REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN A NATIONAL CLASS, WE DROPPED DOWN FOR A WHILE WENT INTO LS 2 CLASS AND BUILT THE BAND UP FROM THERE AND MANAGED TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LS2 CLASS AND PROMOTED BACK TO NATIONAL WHICH WAS ALWAYS THE PLAN.

>> WE WEREN'T EXPECTING THIS TO BE THE SEASON, YOU KNOW.

WE ARE ALL ON A GREAT UPWARD TREND BUT THEN COVID CAME AND EVERYBODY HAD TO START OVER AGAIN AND START REBUILDING AGAIN SO WE EXPECTED IT TO BE A STRONG BAND BUT WE DIDN'T GO IN THINKING THIS IS THE YEAR.

OUR DRUM MAJOR AND ONE OF OUR TRUMPET PLAYERS HAD SAID DURING BAND CAMP, IF WE WIN STATE THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, I'LL LET Ms. SATISFYMANS SHAVE MY HEAD.

I SAID THAT'S TWEET BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THEN THEY STARTED WINNING WEEK AFTER WEEK AND I THOUGHT I MIGHT BE SHAVING THEIR HEAD.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THE WEEK BEFORE CHAMPIONSHIPS ONE OF THE KIDS SAID TO ME, WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO SCORE THIS WEEK AND THEY SAID I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET A 95.

I SAID IF WE GET A 95, I'LL SHAVE MY HEAD.

THEY GOT A 95.05.

OUR BAND BANQUET, A GRAND SHAVING OF THE HEADS.

I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER REASON.

>> CONGRATULATIONS Ms. SEAMANS.

OUR DECEMBER 2022 HONOREE WAS MAGGIE MERCER, ORCHESTRA AND STRINGS TEACHER AT WEST GENESEE SCHOOLS.

>> IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO GET INTRODUCED TO MUSIC.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THINGS FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE.

SO VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, INSTEAD OF STARTING AN INSTRUMENT, MAYBE THEY WOULD DANCE WITH SCAR OFS AND MOVE TO A STEADY BEAT.

A GOOD BEGINNING AT ANYTHING NEVER ENDS.

IF YOU GIVE CHILDREN A REALLY SOLID START IN SOMETHING, I WANT THEM TO HAVE AN APPRECIATION OF WORKING WITH THE GROUP, HAVING A COMMON GOAL THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.

THAT'S CARRIES FOR ME.

I LOVE WHEN WE GET NEW MUSIC AND WE GO TO REHEARSAL AND MAKE IT INTO ONE BIG ORCHESTRA.

IT'S REALLY COOL TO HEAR IT ALL COME TOGETHER AND I THINK THE THINGS THEY TAKE AWAY FROM THE PROGRAM ARE NOT JUST MUSICAL.

I THINK THEY GET AN APPRECIATION FOR BEAUTY AND EXCELLENCE.

THEY KNOW THEY LEARN HOW TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND THEY'RE GIVEN AN ASSIGNMENT SO THEY HAVE TO WORK ON THEMSELVES.

COMMUNICATION NON-VERBAL.

THEY LEARN SO MANY THINGS THEY TAKE WITH THEM.

KIDS START DANCING INNATELY.

MUSIC IS IN US.

WHEN WE WORK AT MUSIC EDUCATION PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY MUSIC INSTRUCTION, WE ARE HONING AND CREATING SKILLS THAT THEY WILL TAKE WITH THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES I THINK THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME THAT WE DEVOTE TO BEAUTY AND WHEN WE CREATE MUSIC TOGETHER, WE CREATE BEAUTY AND WHEN WE CAN APPRECIATE THAT, WE BECOME EVEN BETTER ADULTS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS Ms. MERCY-- CONGRATULATIONS, MS. MERCER!

IN JANUARY 2023, WE PRESENTED THE CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD TO KEVIN UPCRAFT, BAND DIRECTOR AT MEXICO MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> I HOPE MY STUDENTS TAKE WITH THEM THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST PERFORMING MUSIC.

BAND IS A FAMILY.

MUSIC IS A FAMILY.

IT CONNECTS THEM.

IT GIVES THEM MUCH MORE THAN JUST PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT SINGING.

>> I'VE LEARNED TECHNIQUES AND HOW TO PLAY.

WE DO MARCHING RHYTHMS AND THE MUSIC IS MORE THAN A SOUND.

IT CAN BE A WAY TO CONNECT WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

>> IT HELPS WITH THEM EVERY OTHER SUBJECT AREA.

IT HELPS THEM STRONGER COGNITIVELY AND WORK WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO COMPLETE A GOAL.

>> MUSIC EDUCATION IS SO ESSENTIAL TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IT HELPS OUR STUDENTS FIND A CONNECTION TO SCHOOL THAT MIGHT NOT BE THERE IN OTHER SUBJECT AREAS.

IT HELPS BRING TOGETHER A LOT OF DIFFERENT SKILL SETS THAT HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER AREAS AND IN LIFE TOGETHER THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN MUSIC IN OUR CLASSES SINCE IT BEGAN CONGRATULATIONS, MR. UPCRAFT!

THE HONOREE FOR FEBRUARY 2023 WAS KAREN VEVERKA, HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA TEACHER AT SKANEATELES CENTRAL SCHOOLS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> I HOPE THAT THEY CAN REMEMBER, REFLECT BACK ON THIS TIME AND REALIZE THAT MUSIC IS SOMETHING THEY CAN TAKE WITH THEM FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

SO WHETHER THEY END UP PLAYING THEIR INSTRUMENTS, YOU KNOW, OR NOT, THEY CAN ALWAYS SUPPORT MUSIC.

THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THINGS LIKE WCNY CLASSIC FM, THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MANY MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

AND IF THEY BECOME DOCTORS AND LAWYERS, I HOPE THAT THAT BECOMES, YOU KNOW, STAYS IN THEIR BRAIN AS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS THEIR SUPPORT AND HAVING EXPERIENCEED WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL SPUR THEIR MIND TO ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN MUSIC IN SOME WAY IN THEIR LIVES.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MUSIC, THE ARTS, DRAMA, VISUAL ARTS, GIVES STUDENTS AN OUTLET FOR EXPRESSION.

AND WHATEVER THEY'RE FEELING, WHATEVER THEY'RE EXPERIENCING, THE ARTS GIVE THEM A WAY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

AND YOU DON'T GET THAT, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR NORMAL HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM.

YOU ARE STUDYING, OBVIOUSLY MANY, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AND EACH DISCIPLINE REQUIRES SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

BUT I FEEL THE ARTS ARE SPECIAL BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM THAT OUTLET, GIVES THEM THAT CREATIVITY.

IT ALSO HELPS THEM TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER, FOR THE WORLD, AND WE NEED THAT MORE NOW THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE.

MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS IS JUST SO IMPORTANT FOR THOSE REASONS, TO CAPTIVATE THEM, TO MAKE THEM BETTER PEOPLE, TO MAKE THEM MORE COMPASSIONATE, AND TO KEEP MUSIC ALIVE.

CONGRATULATIONS, MS. VEVERKA!

OUR MARCH 2023 HONOREE WAS LINDSAY PALMER, HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND TEACHER AT MCGRAW CENTRAL SCHOOLS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WHEN I WAS HIRED, I KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF, YOU KNOW, IS THIS POSITION GOING TO BE FULL TIME?

IS IT NOT?

THANKFULLY I WORK IN A PLACE THAT MY ADMINISTRATORS WANTED THE POSITION TO BE FULL TIME I.

WAS MY DUTY THEN, WHEN I WAS HIRED, THAT MY JOB IS TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM AMAZING AGAIN.

IT'S TO BUILD MY NUMBERS.

I KIND OF FOUND MYSELF GOING INTO LUNCH PERIODS, GOING INTO STUDY HALLS, JUST KIND OF SURVEYING STUDENTS AND THEIR INTERESTS IN MUSIC.

>> SHE HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH TO THE BAND PROGRAM.

ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, ALL THE DIFFERENT BANDS SHE CREATED AND WANTING TO HAVE PEOPLE INVOLVED, LIKE SHE IS ALWAYS SAYING YOU ARE SIGNING UP FOR BAND NEXT YEAR.

ALWAYS, AND ALWAYS WANTING PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.

>> AND I THINK, TOO, STUDENT WORD OF MOUTH HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE KIND OF RECRUITED SOME OF THEIR CLASSMATES AND SAID HEY, MEET Mrs. PALMER, JOIN THE BAND PROGRAM.

SO THAT WAS MY GOAL THE WHOLE TIME, TO KIND OF MAKE IT GREAT AGAIN, AND HERE WE ARE AND, YOU KNOW, ALMOST 60 STUDENTS LATER.

IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO SEE HOW FAR IT'S COME IN FOUR YEARS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THE BIGGEST THING I CAN TELL ALL OF YOU IS TO NEVER GIVE UP.

NEVER GIVE UP.

IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING, GO FOR IT AND KEEP DOING IT.

BEING HIRED, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, BUT THERE WERE 11 STUDENTS IN MY INTERVIEW IN 2019 IN THE BAND PROGRAM 6-12 AND THEN COVID HIT AND I THOUGHT, HOLY COW, EVERYONE AROUND US IS KIND OF CRUMBLING, YOU KNOW.

THEY'RE TAKING THE HIT, THEY'RE LOSING STUDENTS.

BUT WE DID JUST THE OPPOSITE.

EVEN THROUGH COVID TIMES, WE GREW AND WE KEPT GOING AND WE PERSEVERED.

SO IF I CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING, JUST NEVER GIVE UP ON WHAT YOU WANT AND ON YOUR DREAMS BECAUSE YOU CAN DO IT.

CONGRATULATIONS, MS. PALMER!

OUR HONOREE FOR APRIL 2023 WAS PAM MASTROBATTISTO, BAND DIRECTOR AND MUSIC TEACHER AT PINE GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> MUSIC AND ART BRING SO MUCH TO STUDENTS, THEIR ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO AND JUST ENJOY DOING SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PHYSICAL AND MENTALLY CHALLENGING AS WELL.

YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE PROCESSES THAT ARE GOING ON.

THEY'RE DECODING SOMETHING THAT IS WRITTEN ON A PAGE.

THEN THEIR BODIES, THEIR MINDS HAVE TO PROCESS ALL THAT INFORMATION AND THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING PHYSICALLY WITH THAT INFORMATION.

THEIR FINGERS HAVE TO MOVE.

THEY HAVE TO BLOW INTO AN INSTRUMENT.

THEY'VE GOT TO HIT A DRUM OR SOMETHING.

SO THEY HAVE TO PHYSICALLY DO SOMETHING WITH THAT INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PROCESSED THROUGH THE BRAIN BUT THEN THEY HAVE TO DO IT IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

IT'S NOT AS IF YOU GO IT ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

SO THROUGH THAT, THEY'RE BUILDING A LOT OF NEUROPATHWAYS IN THERE I BRAINS AND IT'S HELPING THEM TO BE BETTER THINKERS AND TO RESPOND FASTER TO THINGS.

AND ALSO IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE.

SO WHENEVER THEY'RE PERFORMING, AND THEY KNOW THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB, THAT'S A HUGE CONFIDENCE BUILDER.

AND I'M HOPING THAT THROUGH MUSIC, IT HELPS BUILD CONFIDENCE, PERSEVERANCE, IT TEACHES THEM LIFE LONG SKILLS.

THEY'LL MEET FRIENDS.

SO IT'S A SOCIAL THING.

IT'S AN EMOTIONAL THING.

IT'S AN INTELLECTUAL THING.

IT JUST OFFERS SO MUCH TO THE ENTIRE PERSON THAT I CAN'T SPEAK ENOUGH ABOUT IT.

I HOPE THEY ALWAYS TAKE THE LOVE OF MUSIC WITH THEM, WHETHER PLAYING OR LISTENING, TO ME, I HOPE THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPART THAT ON THEM HOW MUCH I LOVE MUSIC AND THAT BY LEARNING HOW TO PLAY THINGS MORE DIFFICULT SOMETIMES THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING BUT THEY ALWAYS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND I HOPE THAT THAT SHOWS THEM THAT NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THINGS CAN BE SOMETIMES, THEY HAVE IT IN THEM TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE.

♪ INSTRUMENTAL OF BECAUSE I'M HAPPY) >> CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS, MS. MASTROBATTISTO!

THE HONOREE FOR MAY 2023 WAS DAVE HAWTHORNE, BAND DIRECTOR AND INSTRUMENTAL TEACHER AT ONEIDA HIGH SCHOOL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THEY'RE JUST GREAT KIDS AND FOR ME, IT'S KIND OF BEEN MY PASSION.

I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE MANY YEARS AGO, AND JUST CAME INTO THE JOB AND I JUST FELT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT OR UPHOLD THE BAND PROGRAM.

I THINK IT PROVIDES THEM HAPPINESS DURING THE DAY.

IT TAKES AWAY FROM SOME OF THE RIGORS THAT THEY DEAL WITH IN THEIR CORE CLASSES AND IT ALLOWS THEM A CHANCE TO BE CREATIVE.

IT ALLOWS THEM A CHANCE TO BE THEMSELVES.

IT'S WHAT BROUGHT US TO SCHOOL MOST OF THE TIME.

I THINK I WAS JUST AN AVERAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT BEST, STRUGGLED WITH SOME CLASSES.

BUT BAND WAS WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO COME TO SCHOOL.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A MISTAKE THAT BAND IS FIRST PERIOD.

I THINK IT BRINGS THEM INTO SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND IT PROVIDES THEM SOME PEACE AND HAPPINESS, I THINK, DURING THE DAY.

I JUST HOPE THAT THEY HAVE A LOVE FOR MUSIC; THAT THEY GO TO LIVE PERFORMANCES, THAT THEY GO TO LIVE SHOWS.

I'M NOT SO CONCERNED THAT THEY BECOME MUSIC TEACHERS.

I'M NOT SO CONCERNED THAT THEY CONTINUE PLAYING.

I JUST WANT THEM TO BE CONSUMERS.

I WANT THEM TO ENJOY GOING TO CONCERTS AND LOOK BACK AT THE FUN THAT THEY HAD AND MAYBE, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THEY BECOME PARENTS THEMSELVES, SOME DAY THEIR KIDS WILL GO, HEY, I WANT TO TAKE AN INSTRUMENT, HEY, I WANT TO SING AND THEY GO YEAH, I DID THAT.

THAT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THIS BAND HAS GIVEN ME EVERYTHING.

THAT'S ALL CAN I SAY ABOUT THAT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ CONGRATULATIONS, MR. HAWTHORNE!

IN JUNE 2023 WE PRESENTED OUR FINAL CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR TO TERESA MIRAKIAN, PERFORMING ARTS CHAIR AND STRINGS TEACHER AT MANLIUS PEBBLE HILL SCHOOL.

>> I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM HER BOTH IN TERMS OF HOW TO ACTUALLY PLAY MY INSTRUMENT AND JUST LIFE LESSONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO APPROACH PROBLEMS, BOTH MUSICALLY AND ELSEWHERE.

SHE IS A GREAT INSTRUCTOR AND PER HAS FOR MUSIC REALLY SHINES THROUGH SO I TAKE A LOT OF INSPIRATION FROM HER.

I THINK A LESSON I HAVE LEARNED FROM HER IS TO ALWAYS BE APPRECIATIVE OF OTHERS AND COMMUNICATE AND SHOW YOUR EMOTIONS WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH MUSIC OR ELSEWHERE.

>> I GUESS I WANTED TO GO INTO TEACHING BECAUSE I HAD SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

I GREW UP IN THIS AREA AND SO MANY AMAZING TEACHERS THAT INSPIRED ME.

WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY IS SOME OF OUR TOP PERFORMING MUSICIANS BUT IT'S BEYOND THAT.

I THINK BY HAVING MEANINGFUL MUSICAL EXPERIENCES, THAT WE ARE ALSO CREATING APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS.

I THINK IT ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY.

IT CREATES CREATIVE THINKERS.

IT CREATES CONFIDENT INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT AND WORTHWHILE THING TO BE PART OF CHILDREN'S LIFE AND IT'S A SKILL THAT IS JUST GOING TO ENRICH SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

AND WHETHER STUDENTS GO INTO MUSIC OR NOT, I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY LIFE LESSONS.

LIKE LEARNING HOW TO APPROACH PROBLEMS, BELIEVING IN YOURSELF, DEVELOPING DISCIPLINE SO THERE ARE A LOT OF SIDE BENEFITS THAT I HOPE MY STUDENTS THAT THAT THEY CARRY ON WITH THEM WHEN THEY MOVE ON TO COLLEGE AND ELSEWHERE.

I REALLY LEARNED IF I BREAK A PROBLEM DOWN, I CAN REALLY DO WHATEVER I WANT TO DO IN LIFE AND I HOPE IT'S A LESSON THAT GOT STARTED ON THEIR INSTRUMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS, MS. MIRAKIAN!

MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS IS SO ESSENTIAL FOR STUDENTS, NOT ONLY TO BOLSTER THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF MUSIC AND TECHNIQUE BUT TO FOSTER THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH.

THANKS SO MUCH TO THOSE IN EDUCATION WHO KEEP MUSIC AND A LOVE OF THE ARTS ALIVE AND THRIVING IN THE NEXT GENERATION.

DO YOU KNOW A CENTRAL NEW YORK MUSIC EDUCATOR WHO IS PLAYING A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SHAPING YOUNG MINDS?

HELP US RECOGNIZE THEIR CONTRIBUTION.

YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023/2024 SCHOOL YEAR NOW AT WCNY.ORG/MUSICEDUCATOR.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN TO THIS YEAR'S HONOREES!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ OH ELIJAH ♪ ♪ ELIJAH ROCK ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪