CMA Foundation Honors Music Teachers Of Excellence

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Little Big Town, backed by Charlie Worsham, performs at the 2023 Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony at the Belmont University Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Photo: Nathan Zucker/CMA

The CMA Foundation held its seventh Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony earlier this week at the Belmont University Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville.

The event honored 30 music teachers—10 teachers from Metro Nashville Public Schools, 10 from districts across the state of Tennessee and 10 from across the U.S. Honorees were selected for their commitment to bringing a high-quality music program to their students and the impact they have had on their school community through music.

The War And Treaty performs at the 2023 Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony at the Belmont University Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Photo: John Russell/CMA

The evening celebration included a red carpet, dinner with over 20 artists from the country community and performances throughout the night.

Lauren Daigle spoke about the impact she felt as a child growing up in a family of educators before performing her song “Valuable.” Little Big Town took the stage to perform “Rich Man” while Caitlyn Smith brought the house down with her song “Dreamin’s Free.” The War And Treaty closed the night with their song “Yesterday’s Burn.” Michael Trotter of The War And Treaty also gave a heartfelt speech honoring music teachers as “protectors” and emphasizing the many roles they play in a child’s life.

Madeline Edwards, Lindsay Ell, Filmore, Alex Hall and Frank Ray also took the stage to share how music education impacted their lives and how the CMA Foundation is supporting music and arts education in schools across the country. A student group from schools across Middle Tennessee who made up the CMA Foundation Youth Choir emerged behind the audience for a surprise performance and powerful rendition of “We Are Nashville.”

2023 Music Teachers of Excellence Award Recipients (in alphabetical order):
Alicia Engram – Eagle View Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Antioch, TN
Ann Marie Morris – Cole Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Antioch, TN
Ashley Harris – Spring Station Middle School, Williamson County Schools, Spring Hill, TN
Briana Vogt – Franklin High School, Williamson County Schools, Franklin, TN
Corey Graves – Tony A. Jackson Middle School, Forney Independent School District, Forney, TX
Crystal Briley – University Park Creative Arts School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, Charlotte, NC
DaJuana “Dee” Hammonds – Hull-Jackson Montessori School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
Danielle Leigh Taylor – Tusculum Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
Elaina Gallas – Edmondson Elementary School, Williamson County School District, Brentwood, TN
Elizabeth Carter – Snowden School, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Memphis, TN
Eric Songer – Chaska Middle School West, Eastern Carver County School District, Chaska, MN
Ethan Chessin – Camas High School, Camas School District, Camas, WA
Frank Zimmerer – Antioch High School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Antioch, TN
Garrett Doo – Smyrna High School, Rutherford County Schools, Smyrna, TN
Jacqueline Hanna – Glenview Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
Jason Glashauser – South Clinton Elementary School, Clinton City School District, Clinton, TN
Kacee Sanders – DuPont Hadley Middle School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Old Hickory, TN
Kate Affainie – Granbery Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Brentwood, TN
Kristina Waugh – Rossview High School, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, Clarksville, TN
Mandy Funderburk – Meigs Academic Magnet School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
Matthew Trevino – Roan Forest Elementary School, North East Independent School District, San Antonio, TX
Dr. Nita L. Smith – Isaiah T. Creswell Middle Magnet School of the Visual and Performing Arts, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
Nora Hernández – Monroe Elementary Language Academy, Garden Grove Unified School District, Fountain Valley, CA
Patrick Bourn – Franklin Elementary School, Franklin Special School District, Franklin, TN
Rose Hellmers – Ravenwood High School, Williamson County Schools, Brentwood, TN
Ryan Mack – P.S. 10 Magnet School of Math, Science, and Design Technology, NYC DOE District 15, Brooklyn, NY
Shawna Longo – Durban Avenue Elementary School, Hopatcong Borough Schools, Hopatcong, NJ
Sherie Grossman – Mt. Juliet High School, Wilson County Schools, Mt. Juliet, TN
Stephanie San Roman – Oswego High School, Oswego Community Unit School District 308, Oswego, IL
Stephen Lawrence-Carroll – North Atlanta High School, Atlanta City School District, Atlanta, GA

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