Ossining School District's Music Programs Honored for Seventh Year in a Row

The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation recently recognized the Ossining School District for the quality of its music education programs, marking the seventh consecutive year the district has received this honor.

Roughly 625 schools and districts from around the country were selected this year. The NAMM Foundation, in cooperation with researchers at the University of Kansas’ Music Research Institute, selects schools and districts that have outstanding music programs. The awards program is in its 18th year.

"Music education plays a critical role in our school district,” Ossining Superintendent Raymond Sanchez said. “Our quality programs are the product of high levels of support from our community, dedicated educators, and talented students. Thank you to the NAMM Foundation and to our community.”

The awards program, which is in its 18th year, recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parent, students and community leaders who have made music education part of the curriculum. The award-winning schools and districts “demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education” and “set the bar high in offering students access to comprehensive music education,” according to the NAMM Foundation.

“Music and the arts receive wonderful support from our community and our outstanding faculty members work tirelessly to help each student fulfill his or her personal expressive potential,” said Bradley Morrison, the district’s director of cultural arts. “We’re honored to have this effort recognized and acknowledged at the national level.”

A recent study of students in the Chicago public school system by researchers at Northwestern University confirmed previous findings that music education helps improve brain function, discipline and language development, and it leads to greater overall student success.

“The schools and districts our foundation recognizes are building on that connection between music and academics,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of the NAMM Foundation. “These schools and districts are models for other educators who see music as a key ingredient in a well-rounded curriculum that makes music available to all children, regardless of ZIP code.”