School districts and individual schools are encouraged to apply to receive the national distinction as a NAMM Foundation Best Communities for Music Education. The Best Communities for Music Education Award (BCME) and its counterpart, the SupportMusic Merit Award (SMMA), recognize outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, students and community leaders at the district and individual school level that share the common goal to ensure access to music for all students in the classroom.
What Districts and Schools Are Saying about the BCME Designation
“The designation has been a source of pride for our community, students, and administrators, and is often used as a selling point that local real estate agents use with potential buyers considering home purchases in the Henrico County school locality.” - Richard Tinsley, music education specialist for Henrico County Public Schools in Richmond, VA.
“One of the biggest kicks is to see a child come into the music program as an introvert and leave as a student leader. That's a tremendous process." - Dick Zentner, a Patrick John Hughes award-winning parent.
“Being named a BCME was the catalyst for us to gain an expanded music education budget, all while increasing community visibility and support.” - Lonnie Stover, Supervisor of Music at Sycamore Community Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“This designation reaffirms that our music program is supported by the community, parents and school. Students take pride in knowing they are part of something like this, and our numbers keep growing.” - Susan Starkweather Miller, Grants Manager of Albion Central School District in Albion, New York and a nine-time consecutive BCME winner.
Why Your School or District Should Participate
