For the fifth consecutive year, the Vestal Central School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Vestal received the honor for the first time in 2017, and this year is one of only 686 school districts recognized nationwide!
The Best Communities for Music Education Award is a signature program recognizing school districts for their support and commitment to music education and their efforts to assure access to music for all students as part of a well-rounded education. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Vestal participated in a survey developed in partnership with the Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas. Survey questions were aligned with goals for equity and access to music education for all students.
“The Best Communities for Music Education designation is an acknowledgement of the daily dedication of our music students and music teachers,” said Gregory Harris, the District’s Music Department Chair. “It also recognizes our K-12 staff, administrators and community members for their continued support of Music Education. In this extremely challenging year, we could not be prouder of the teachers and students in the Vestal Music Department, for their perseverance, flexibility, and endless passion to help music thrive in our community.”
Vestal’s Music Education program regularly sees students selected for the New York State Schools Music Association (NYSSMA) festivals each year. This year, performing virtually, we had three students in NYSSMA All-State ensembles, three students in the NYS Band Directors Association Honor Band and one student in an All-National ensemble!