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 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, 8 HONOREES RECEIVED THE CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEDICATION TO 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 2023 WAS ERICA WALTERS.

CHORAL DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF VOICE, PIANO AND MUSICAL THEATER AT CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO Ms. WALTERS.

>> FOR OUR LATEST CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD HONOREE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> ALL MY STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM, I CONTINUE TO BE INSPIRED BY YOU LIKE I TRY TO INSPIRE YOU.

AND I THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS TRYING OUT OWL THE FUNGI FUNKY THINGS I ASK YOU TO DO TO BE BETTER MUSICIANS AND FOR THOSE WHO NOMINATED ME, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS A THING SO I'M REALLY EXCITED AND I'M A LITTLE OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU.

>> CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHAT HAS IT MEANT TO HAVE HER AS A PRIVATE TEACHER, AS YOUR PROFESSOR?

WHAT HAS SHE TAUGHT YOU?

>> SHE HAS TAUGHT ME TO TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT I CAN DO WITH EVERYTHING WITH MY VOICE.

TAUGHT ME TO PURSUE MY DREAMS AND JUST REALLY EXPRESS MYSELF THROUGH HOW I CAN DO IT THROUGH MY VOICE.

>> MUSIC GIVES US A MOMENT TO CONNECT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT CONNECT IN A HUMAN WAY.

IT ALLOWS US TO IMPROVE OURSELVES IN MANY WAYS, NOT JUST AS MUSICIANS BUT AS PEOPLE.

AND IT BUILDS OUR CONFIDENCE.

AND THOSE ARE LIFE LESSONS THAT WE WILL TAKE WITH US THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES AND USE IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES, NO THE JUST CREATING MUSIC.

>> SO TODAY YOU ARE GOING TO BE SEE SOMETHING SCENES FROM OUR MUSICAL THEATER ENSEMBLE.

THIS IS A WORKSHOP STYLE COURSE.

STUDENTS CHOOSE THE SCENES, THE CHARACTERS AT THEY'RE GOING TO STUDY.

THEY CAST THOSE SCENES FROM WITHIN THE CLASS AND THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF THE DIRECTION, TOO.

THEY GET TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT BLOCKING AND COSTUMING AND PROPS AND IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.

WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.

WE GIVE EACH OTHER FEEDBACK BUT IT'S REALLY STUDENT LED AND I'M THERE TO OBSERVE AND GIVE FEEDBACK AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PURSUE AND PUSH A LITTLE FURTHER.

EVEN THIS MORNING THEY GOT SOME FEEDBACK BEFORE THEY CAME OUT TO PERFORM FOR YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ FLOATING HIGH LIKE A BUBBLE IN THE SKY ♪ ♪ FEELING GOOD LIKE JUST LIKE I SAID, AND YOU'RE THE REASON WHY ♪ LET'S HAVE SOME FUN TOGETHER.

♪ WE'LL BE BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.

♪ BN-- BFF THAT STANDS FOR US ♪ ♪ ♪ THIS CAN'T GET ANY BETTER.

♪ YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND FOREVER.

♪ BF THAT STANDS FOR US BFF THAT STANDS FOR US ♪ ♪ BFF THAT STANDS FOR US ♪ -- FOR SPONGEBOB AND PATRICK.

♪ THAT STANDS FOR US ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] OUR OUR OCTOBER 2023 HONOREE WAS BETHANY COLENZO.

MUSIC AND CHORAL TEACHER AT HOLLAND PATENT CENTRAL SCHOOLS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> WE ARE HERE TO HONOR YOUR TEACHER, BETHANY COLENZO.

YOU ARE OUR OCTOBER FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD HONOREE.

>> GET OUT OF HERE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I HAD NO IDEA WHO ANY OF YOU WERE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A BONUS OBSERVATION.

THIS IS BETHANY COLENZO AND HOW ABOUT YOU, WERE YOU SURPRISED?

>> I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED.

I MUST SAY, THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW TIMES IN MY LIFE THAT I AM COMPLETELY SPEECHLESS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THEM.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THESE STUDENTS TO CARRY WITH THEM AS THEY CONTINUE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GO ON TO BE A MUSIC TEACHER.

WONK WONK, BUT I WANT THEM TO HAVE THE JOY OF MUSIC IN THEM.

I WANT THEM TO FEEL CONFIDENT SINGING TO THEIR CHILDREN, LULLABIES OR SING AT THEIR GRANDPARENTS BIRTHDAY PARTIES, BE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY THEATER AND CHURCH WORSHIP GROUPS AND COLLEGE A CAPELLA GROUPS.

WHATEVER MUSIC MEANS TO THEM, I WANT THEM TO CAR CARRY THAT ON THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION AND THIS IS ONE OF THE JOYS OF HAVING THIS PLATFORM.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO FOLKS ABOUT THAT?

>> IN THE MUSIC CLASSROOM, SPECIFICALLY MY CLASSROOM, I WANT ALL STUDENTS TO FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME.

I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE ARE A FAMILY AND THEY HAVE A HOME.

THEY ARE WORTHY.

THEY ARE VALUABLE.

EVERYBODY MEMBER IS IMPORTANT.

AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I LOVE THEM ALL.

I REALLY DO.

AND I WANT THEM ALL TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP ALL THE TIME.

AND I WANT THAT TO CARRY WITH THEM AS THEY GO THROUGH SCHOOL.

♪ DO NOT BE AFRAID THE ANGEL SAID ♪ ♪ I BRING GOOD NEWS TO YOU ♪ ♪ I WANT TO WATCH THE CHILD BORN ♪ GO NOW AND FIND THE... ♪ HURRY, HURRY, NOW TO BETHLEHEM, THE STAR WILL BE YOUR GUIDING LIGHT ♪ ♪ HURRY, HURRY, NOW TO BETHLEHEM ♪ GO OUT AND FIND THE BABE THIS NIGHT.

♪ AND WE SHALL BE...

NEWBORN, FACE SO SMALL.

♪ HE IS LYING IN A MANGER BED.

♪ WITHIN... ♪ HURRY, HURRY NOW TO BETHLEHEM ♪ ♪ THE STAR WILL BE YOUR GUIDING LIGHT ♪ ♪ HURRY, HURRY, NOW TO BETHLEHEM ♪ >> THE HONOREE FOR NOVEMBER 2023 WAS ERIC PETIT-McCLURE BAND AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AT NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL.

>> WE ARE HERE TODAY TO HONOR YOUR NOTTINGHAM MUSIC TEACHER ERIC PETIT-McCLURE WITH OUR NOVEMBER CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD.

AND THERE IT IS, GUYS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I AM SO LIKE SO BEYOND-- I'M SUPER SURPRISED.

I HAD NO IDEA.

SO THIS IS VERY, VERY OVERWHELMING FOR ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

MAKING MUSIC IS NOT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.

LIKE PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW IT IMPROVES THIS OR IMPROVES THAT.

TO ME THAT'S NOT MY FOCUS.

MY FOCUS IS IT'S VALUABLE IN IT'S OWN RIGHT.

IT DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER REASON WHY IT'S SPECIAL.

IT JUST IS, RIGHT?

PEOPLE WHO PLAY IT AND EXPERIENCE IT IN AN ENSEMBLE OR BY THEMSELVES OR WITH OTHERS, THEY KNOW HOW SPECIAL THAT FEELING IS.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT.

IT'S MAGICAL, SPECIAL AND MAKES PEOPLE FEEL GREAT AND HELPS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES AND THAT'S REASON ENOUGH TO HAVE IT IN OUR KIDS LIVES.

>> I THINK THAT A BIG THING ABOUT IT BEING HIS STUDENT FOR SO LONG IS JUST THE CONNECTIONS THAT YOU GO GET THROUGH OTHER STUDENTS AND HIM AS A TEACHER.

I'VE MADE GREAT FRIENDS THROUGH BAND AND LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS THAT CAN I TALK TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

I STILL TALK TO PEOPLE WHO GRADUATED YEARS AND YEARS AGO WHO WERE IN MY BAND CLASS AND WE SHARED GREAT MEMORIES TOGETHER.

IT'S A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE THROUGH HIM AS WELL.

HE IS AN AMAZING TEACHER.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (LIFE GOES ON BY THE BEATLES) NOTE ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (LIFE GOES ON BY THE BEATLES) IN JANUARY 2024, WE PRESENTED THE CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD TO CASEY VANDERSTOUW.

BARNED DIRECTOR AT BAKER HIGH SCHOOL.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CASEY VANDERSTOUW.

>> WE WERE IN BAND CLASS WHEN YOU GUYS CAME IF AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE AWARD WAS.

WHEN I LEARNED WHAT IT WAS, I FIGURED Mr. V COMPLETELY DESERVED IT BECAUSE HE IS A GREAT MUSIC TEACHER AND HE IS JUST A REALLY GOOD PERSON.

>> HE ALWAYS CREATES LIKE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH EVERYONE IN THE BAND AND HE ALWAYS ADVOCATES FOR EVERYONE AND HE IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US.

>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING AWAY AS THEY MOVE THROUGH YOUR PROGRAMS?

>> WELL, THEY HIT ON THAT, WHICH IS KIND OF NICE.

IT'S THAT YOU NEVER GIVE UP.

YOU NEVER QUIT.

WE ALL FACE ADVERSITY.

GOING THROUGH COVID, ALL THESE KIDS STUCK THROUGH IT.

IT'S STUFF, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT IN YOUR BEDROOM.

YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE COMMUNITY ASPECT.

AND THEY HUNG THROUGH THAT AND THIS IS EVIDENCE OF WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE THING I STRESS THE MOST IS THAT WE ALL PLATEAU.

WE ALL GO THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH, BUT YOU DON'T QUIT BECAUSE IT DOES GET BETTER AT SOME POINT AND THEY'VE ALL LEARNED THOSE EXPERIENCES AND SEEN THOSE MOMENTS WHERE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER.

WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN REWARDED FOR SOMETHING OR THEY GET A COOL GIG LIKE THIS.

THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT A MUSICIAN STRIVES FOR.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THE HONOREE FOR FEBRUARY 2024 WAS ALISON MILES.

BAND DIRECTOR AT FABIUS-POMPE HIGH SCHOOL.

CONGRATULATIONS TO Mrs.

MILES.

>> I WANT TO THANK MY STUDENTS.

YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS GREAT.

FOR THE MOST PART.

I KNOW SOMETIMES WE ARE SQUIRRELY BUT THANK YOU FOR LIKE SAY STAYING IN BAND AND BEING PART OF MY PROGRAM.

I LOVE THIS.

I LOVE WHAT I DO IF YOU CAN'T TELL THAT I LOVE WHAT I DO.

IT IS VERY SPECIAL TO BE HERE AT FABIUS-POMPEI.

WE DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS, PLAY A LOT OF GREAT MUSIC, PUT ON A LOT OF GREAT PERFORMANCES.

YOU HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF HERE.

YOU MAKE MY LIFE JOYFUL BY LETTING ME DO ALL THESE THINGS SO THANK YOU.

>> NEXT.

ONE MORE BIG CHEER.

>> WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN ALL THESE PEOPLE BARGED INTO YOUR REHEARSAL AND GAVE Mrs.

MILES THIS AWARD?

>> HONESTLY, I REALLY WASN'T THAT SHOCKED.

LIKE SHE IS AMAZING AND SHE HAS DONE A LOT FOR OUR SCHOOL.

AND I REALLY DON'T WANT HER TO LEAVE EVER.

>> MUSIC CAN OPEN UP SO MANY THINGS FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE.

WHEN YOU ARE SAD, PUT ON A SONG, WHETHER YOU ARE MAD PUT ON A SOPPING.

WHEN YOU ARE HAPPY, CELEBRATE WITH A SONG.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THE SONG.

JUST WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU AND THAT I CARE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.

IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, THEY CAN COME TO ME.

MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS JUST ABOUT MUSIC.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ OUR MARCH 2024 HONOREE WAS STEVE BUTTON.

BAND DIRECTOR AT CANNES CANASTOTA JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> WE ARE HERE TO HONOR YOUR TEACHER, Mr. STEVE BUTTON WITH OUR MARCH CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> Mr. BUTTON IS A VETERAN TEACHER AT THE CANASTOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE DIRECTS THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BANDS AND THE PLUSSING BAND AND THE PEP BAND AND THE JAZZ BAND.

STEVE, YOU WERE NOMINATED FOR THIS AWARD BY ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS.

HE TOLD US IN ADDITION TO BEING A GREAT TEACHER, YOU ARE A SUPER NICE GUY, WHO IS PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSIC.

HE SAID YOU WORK HARD WITH EACH AND EVERY STUDENT MUSICIAN TO MAKE SURE THEY REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND YOU NEVER GIVE UP ON ANYONE.

WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU FOUND OUT Mr. BUTTON GOT THIS AWARD?

>> I WASN'T SURPRISED.

>> NO?

WHY NOT?

>> VERY AMAZING TEACHER AND I THINK HE DESERVES IT.

>> THIS IS MY 36th YEAR.

I STILL GET GOOSE BUMPS WHEN WE GET TO THIS POINT WITH THE KIDS, WATCHING THEM PERFORM AFTER, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THINGS.

I'M HOPING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS KEEP FIGHTING FOR HAVING GOOD MUSIC IN OUR PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

THESE EXPERIENCES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ OUR HONOREE FOR APRIL 2024 WAS LUBA LESSER.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> I WAS DRIVING A COUPLE WEEKS NAG MY CAR AND I HEARD ABOUT THE AWARD AND I THOUGHT WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO BE NOMINATED SOME DAY.

>> YOU ARE NOT ONLY NOMINATED, YOU HAVE EARNED THE AWARD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE WORKING WITH HERE AT McKINLAY BRIGHTON WITH MY KIDS AND I DON'T KNOW, I JUST LOVE WHAT I DO.

>> MY HOPE IS THAT THEY FIND JOY IN MUSIC AND THAT THEY LEARN TO APPRECIATE MUSIC, CREATE MUSIC AND NOT TO THINK THAT IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO WRITE A SONG OR SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO DANCE, BUT THEY CAN ALL DO THAT.

I THINK IT'S SUCH A GREAT OUTLET FOR ALL PEOPLE, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS, TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD AND THEIR OWN FEELINGS THROUGH AN ART FORM AND MUSIC, I THINK, IS A PERFECT FORM FOR THAT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN DOING INSTRUMENT AND BEING-- WHEN WE ARE DONE AT BEING GOOD, SHE GIVES US PRIZES WE CAN PLAY WITH.

>> NICE.

SO WE BE GOOD EVERY SINGLE TIME, RIGHT, EVERYBODY.

>> WHAT I LEARN WITH HER IS THAT IT'S LIKE A REAL UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU CAN BE CREATIVE BY ALSO SINGING AND DANCING AND DOING LIKE STUFF THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH MUSIC.

WHEN I'M A GROWN-UP, I WANT TO BE A SINGER LIKE HER.

♪ I'M SORRY,...

IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU (INAUDIBLE).

♪ SHE FILLED UP HER CAULDRON AND SAID WITH A GRIN ♪ ♪ FIND SOMETHING, EVERYONE, THROW SOMETHING IN ♪ ♪ SO THE FROG FOUND A LILLY ♪ ♪ THE CAT FOUND A COMB.

>> THE BIRD FOUND A TWIG ♪ ♪ AND THE DOG FOUND A BONE ♪ ♪ THEY THREW THEM ALL IN AND THE WITCH STIRRED THEM WELL ♪ ♪ AND WHILE SHE WAS STIRRING, SHE MUTTERED A SPELL... >> AND OUT ROSE A TRULY TERRIFIC BLOOM... ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ YAY, GIVE YOURSELVES A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

NICE JOB, YOU GUYS.

IN MAY 2024 WE PRESENTED OUR FINAL CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR TO SHARON PHETTEPLACE.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT CHAIR PERSON AND JUNIOR AND SENIOR BAND DIRECTOR AND MUSIC TEACHER AT THE CORTLAND CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHARON PHETTEPLACE.

WE ARE HERE TO HONOR YOUR TEACHER, Ms. SHARON PHETTEPLACE WITH OUR MAY CLASSIC FM MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I'M VERY SURPRISED BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND I JUST WANT TO DO MY JOB AND DO IT WELL.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT GETS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING THEY NEED ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND I AM VERY EXCITED TO OFFER MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN THEY WOULD GET DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

AND FOR ME, THAT'S FUN AND I HOPE THEY THINK IT'S FUN, TOO.

AND I HOPE UTSZ A REASON TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM BUT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

IT MEANS A LOT.

WHAT I WANT EACH AND EVERY STUDENT TO UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY'RE ALL MUSICIANS.

WHEREVER THEIR STARTING POINT IS, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR GROWTH.

WHETHER THEY START UP HERE, THEY CAN GROW MORE OR START HERE AND GROW MORE.

AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT EVERY LITTLE INCH OF IMPROVEMENT IS A HUGE CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.

I WOULD SAY MY PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH THESE STUDENTS IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL IS FOSTERING THE EXCITEMENT AND LOVE FOR MUSIC.

BUT ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, SEEING THEM DISCOVER THAT WITHIN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AND THE BAND PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR, THAT THEY FOUND A FAMILY OF FRIENDS TOGETHER, AND THAT THESE ARE STUDENTS AND PEERS THAT THEY CAN COUNT ON AND TRUST AND IT'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

>> I MEAN I FEEL LIKE I'VE LEARNED QUITE A BIT ABOUT THEY'REY FROM HER, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, BUT IN JUST LIKE IN REGARDS TO EVERYTHING, I FEEL LIKE THE WAY SHE TEACHES HAS REALLY TAUGHT ME HOW IMPORTANT HAVING FUN IS.

♪ (SEVEN NATION ARMY PLAYING) 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 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR NOW AT WCNY.ORG/MUSICEDUCATOR.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN TO