After being nominated by the Maine Township School High School District 207director of bands, a drumline at Maine South High School has been recognized by a nonprofit music access and advocacy organization with an award for student engagement.
District officials announced in a news release that the Unified Drumline of Maine South, one of three schools in SD207, is a recipient of the Music for All award in the category of student recruitment, engagement and retention – for its “exceptional strategies” in this area.
“Music for All is an organization whose vision is to be a catalyst to ensure that every child in America has access and opportunity for active music-making in their scholastic environment. These awards highlight educators and programs that have created an event or idea that is exceptional in their field and community,” the release states.
The release explains that the Advocacy in Action awards are presented annually in seven categories: Community Involvement, Decision-Maker Engagement, Elementary Excellence, Innovative Fundraising, Marketing and Promotion, Parent/Booster Support, and Student Recruitment, Engagement and Retention.
According to the release, the Unified Drumline started in the 2023-2024 academic year based on a suggestion from Lily Heneghan, then a Maine South senior. In the program, band students and special education students work together on drumming fundamentals including how to hold drumsticks, how to play the drums, rhythm games and more. Together, they prepare songs to perform at fall assemblies and home football games.
“Music is such an international language that connects people – no matter who you are, what you do or where you’re from, music can bring us all together,” Director of Bands David Hutter stated in the release. “Seeing the Unified Drumline perform at the assembly or at the football game is powerful. At the football game this year, it was the quietest I’d ever heard that stadium because the whole crowd, the thousands of people in the audience, were all completely engaged and wanted to hear what was going on. They were so supportive.”
Advocacy in Action is a program of Music for All that is designed to collect, recognize and share practices and initiatives that support music education in schools, the release explains.
The organization’s awards “recognize and celebrate the commitment of school administrators, community leaders, teachers and parents who believe in music education and are advocating to ensure that it is part of a comprehensive education for all children,” according to the release.
