Five local districts, one Catholic school win national music honor

Five school districts and one Catholic school in the greater Dayton area have been recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for the quality of their music education programs.

Kettering, Troy, Lebanon, Kings and Wilmington schools were among 583 districts nationwide to be named Best Communities for Music Education by NAMM. Just over 5 percent of Ohio school districts (37 of 608) won the award.

St. Albert the Great Catholic School in Kettering won the related Support Music Merit Award, recognizing the commitment to music education at an individual school. St. Albert was one of four Ohio schools selected among 135 nationwide.

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“Along with a strong commitment to music education, there are two common traits that each program shares: consistent funding that anchors music education as part of the core curriculum and music programs that are located in communities where music education is viewed as a jewel of the school system,” said Mary Luehrsen of The NAMM Foundation. “Parents, administrators and community members are proud of these local music programs and attend them regularly.”

The awards program recognizes outstanding efforts to make music education part of the curriculum. The National Association of Music Merchants and University of Kansas researchers evaluate schools and districts based on funding, staffing of highly qualified teachers, commitment to standards and access to music instruction.

Kettering City Schools won the Best Communities for Music Education award for a seventh consecutive year. The district has a half-dozen band, orchestra and choir concerts in the next 10 days, and is in the process of building a new, multimillion-dollar auditorium at Fairmont High School.

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Lebanon City Schools, which won the award for a fifth year in a row, holds its 22nd annual Spring Swing on Saturday night, featuring high school and junior high jazz bands and a saxophone quartet.

Troy City Schools is a third-time winner of the Best Communities for Music Education award, and St. Albert is a repeat winner of the Support Music Merit Award.

“Along with contributing to improved graduation rates and academic success, students in quality music programs are consistently more proficient in other subjects and develop many ancillary life-long skills,” said KU researcher Christopher Johnson.

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