There is a reason Eisenhower High School music teacher and band leader Justin Antos is a third-time finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award.
There actually are a lot of reasons: his students, who say he’s sparked their passion for music and so much more.
“Dr. Antos is one of those people who, when you meet them, they stick with you forever,” said Makenna Murphy, a senior at the school in Blue Island. “He has such a sweet soul and he has led all of his students to being the strongest possible versions of themselves.”
Makenna, whose classes with Antos included performance band, symphonic band and the Cardinal Big Band Jazz Band, said his enthusiasm for music is contagious.
“He inspires all of us to fully commit ourselves to everything that we are passionate about and always tells us to follow our dreams, because you never know what can happen,” Makenna said. “With Dr. Antos’ guidance, I am mentally and emotionally stronger than I have ever been and I am forever grateful to him.”
Antos is one of only 10 nominees nationwide for the Grammy educator award and the only teacher from Illinois. The winner will receive $10,000 plus a matching grant for his or her school’s music program. Other finalists get a $1,000 honorarium plus matching school grant and the 15 semifinalists receive a $500 honorarium and matching grant.
The winner will be recognized just before the Grammys are presented on Feb. 2. The award recognizes educators who have made a significant impact on music education.
Antos fits the bill, according to former student Felix Ponce, who now is the band director at Richards High School in Oak Lawn.
“As a high school student, I always appreciated his thoughtful approach to band, and that he was working to create a strong band community,” Ponce said. “The growth that he has fostered over there is astronomical and gives me a sense of pride saying that I graduated from that program.”
Ponce said Antos still is an important mentor.
“Now that we are colleagues, Justin has helped me acclimate to the district and continues to provide support for anything music related,” he said.
Already a two-time nominee for the Grammy award, Antos said national recognition isn’t his motivation. Rather it’s his love for teaching music and determination to “give the kids the best experience possible.”
“I think it’s a matter of getting to know the kids even more, the community even more, being more present, just in general keeping a pulse on the classroom, keeping a pulse on the culture and climate in the building,” Antos said.
He still comes to work loving what he does.
“I’m excited about how even after all these years, I can still experience something brand new every single day,” said Antos, who lives in Frankfort. “There’s never been a day where I’ve felt bored or complacent.”
Antos, who has been teaching for 17 years, already has a slew of other honors. He won the Dr. William P. Foster Project Community Development award in 2023, which included free instruments, accessories, clinicians and subscriptions from Conn-Selmer Instruments, Yamaha Music Corporation and KHS America. Earlier this year, he was recognized as one of the Music Teachers of Excellence by the Country Music Association for the second time in three years.
His bands have won many awards, too, being recognized at school competitions across the region.
Students feel a sense of pride in their work with Antos.
Khriz Figueroa, a junior at Eisenhower, who plays saxophone, piano, guitar and trumpet, said he’s always loved music but he grew as a musician thanks to guidance from Antos.
“I never really locked into my music journey until high school started,” said Khris, who is in the honors band, jazz band and marching band. “He’s very encouraging, he wants us to know about music. “I started doing music gigs and he was really surprised and I guess proud to see his student actively engaging in music.”
Khriz said he was “ecstatic” about the nomination.
“A famous teacher — not many can say that,” Khriz said.
In addition to his work at Eisenhower, Antos, a percussionist, is director of bands at St. Xavier University in Chicago and an adjunct professor of music education at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. He has a doctorate in music education and is obtaining a second doctorate in educational policy from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
“A lot of the students who go to Eisenhower come from demographics that have statistically kind of fallen through the cracks,” Antos said. “I think the more that teachers are aware of the inequities in the public school system and the more adept they are at how to remedy those inequities to break down some of those barriers to give every kid the opportunity to succeed.
“I think that’s really where the magic is going to happen.”
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
