Trinity honored for commitment to music
Trinity Area School District has been recognized by the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education with a Best Communities for Music Education designation.
Trinity joins 376 districts across the country in receiving the distinction this year. This is the fifth consecutive year the district has been recognized.
In its 15th year, Best Communities for Music Education honors school districts that have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the school’score curriculum.
The BCME survey requires districts to answer detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by the Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kan., an affiliate of the University of Kansas.
The BCME designation is an important part of the NAMM Foundation’s efforts to advocate for school-based music education. Numerous studies have demonstrated that learning to play music can boost other academic and social skills, such as math and learning to cooperate in a group. The NAMM-funded Cost of Music Education study found that a comprehensive kindergarten through 12th-grade music education program costs an average of $187 per student per year.
Trinity’s high school marching band is a 10-time state champion, and the wind ensemble has received 20 consecutive superior ratings at festivals. The high school chamber choir is annually involved in events around the county, acting as musical ambassadors, along with the marching band and its involvement in local parades and special ceremonies.
In the 2013-14 school year, 19 high school students were involved in various local, state and national honor music festivals. Maria Grande and Julia Handra participated in national honor ensembles, and Anthony D’Orazio earned a spot in the state orchestra ensemble.
In addition to tonight’s spring band concert, the Trinity orchestra will perform its spring concert May 21, and the chorus will present its concert May 28. All performances begin at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.