Willow Grove's Music Teacher Bill Cain Wins Grand Prize of the first PYO Ovation Award

It has been a banner year for Willow Grove’s William Cain, Wissahickon Middle School’s Band Director and music educator. Not only did he recover from brain surgery in January, well enough to return to his frightened students in only six weeks, but on Sunday, June 1st, he was named the first Grand Prize winner of the inaugural Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) Ovation Award on the stage of Verizon Hall in the Kimmel Center. Just after receiving the award, Cain said, “I’m elated! It feels like I just finished playing with a symphony orchestra when the performance comes out perfectly. At those times I’m ‘floating’.  That’s how I feel right now.”

Cain was one of ten music teacher finalists nominated by current and former students. 130 essay nominations were submitted responding to this question … “How has my music teacher changed my life?” For Cain’s nominator Michael Brookshire, who first met Cain 30 years ago, it was an easy essay to write. The mutual respect of the two is clear, even though Brookshire smiles after he was asked if he still plays drums. He said, “Drums are, well, therapeutic for me now.” And, Cain is thrilled about that.

The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s first annual Ovation Award for Inspiration and Outstanding Leadership in Music Education was created to honor music teachers in the Delaware Valley who not only teach, but help build character and confidence for a lifetime. It was presented and endowed by H.E.L.P Foundation and sponsored by Jacobs Music Company, J.W. Pepper, and WRTI-FM. The presentation took place at the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s 74th annual Festival Concert at Verizon Hall, demonstrating the incredible talent of the students. A blue ribbon panel of music experts from local universities and institutions chose the 10 finalists

Cain was particularly grateful for the spotlight that the Ovation Award shines on the necessity for arts in the public schools, and the positive impact that music education and appreciation has in all aspects of students’ lives.  “I thank PYO for remembering how important music in the schools is. It often feels like nobody cares and that we’re the only ones in a battle out there as music classes keep getting chipped away. Then something like this happens and you realize there IS somebody out there who cares.”

Cain and the other nine finalists were invited to the PYO’s season finale concert at Verizon Hall where they were recognized onstage by the award’s sponsors; Chris Rinaldi, President of Jacob’s Music Company, Lee Paynter, COO of J.W. Pepper, WRTI’s Jack Moore who served as host of the award presentation and Maestro Louis Scaglione, President and Music Director of the PYO. Gary A. Frank of H.E.L.P. Foundation was out of town. Cain was presented with a crystal tribute trophy from Jacobs Music, a cash prize from the H.E.L.P. Foundation and a substantial gift card from J.W. Pepper. 

The impressive list of finalists who also received plaques, cash prizes and gift cards, are: Derek Barnes—Merion Station, PA; Thomas Elliott—Narberth, PA; Elizabeth Kaderabek—Bala Cynwyd, PA; Anthony Prisk—Philadelphia, PA; Hirono Oka—Cherry Hill, NJ; Angela Riggs—Flourtown, PA; Kimberly Rowe—Philadelphia, PA; Shelley Beard Schleigh—Wilmington, DE; and Byrnina Socolofsky—Glassboro, NJ.

Louis Scaglione was thrilled with the public’s response to the Ovation Award, and is excited to make the award program an annual tradition to highlight the important role of music education in our culture.  As leader of the PYO, the area’s oldest and most respected orchestral preparatory organization, he is keenly aware of the enormous influence music educators have on all aspects of their students’ lives. He said, “We received so many testimonials from grateful students whose teachers taught them self confidence, commitment and life skills that reached far beyond the classroom, similar to our goals at Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. We believe it is important to bring positive attention to these wonderful mentors, and applaud them for their contribution in the education system and in our society.”

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About the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra: The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization is the Tri-State area’s premier musical training and performance programs for gifted, young musicians and one of the most highly regarded youth orchestral and college preparatory music education institutions in the country. For 74 years, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra organization has been providing professional-caliber musical experiences to young instrumentalists under the guidance of a prestigious faculty that includes members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Led by President and Music Director Louis Scaglione, the organization is comprised of five programs designed to develop a variety of specialized musical skills: the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO), Bravo Brass, Philadelphia Region Youth String Music (PRYSM), and Tune Up Philly, an after-school outreach program.  For more information about the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, visit www.pyos.org.

About H.E.L.P. ® Foundation and LCG.:  H.E.L.P.® Foundation, the philanthropic division of LCG, Ltd., dedicates time and resources in furtherance of community service and in support of charitable causes and non-profit organizations, both regional and nationwide.  LCG fosters an organizational commitment to compassionate service as the nation's largest privately held employee legal plan provider.   LCG maintains its national headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, PA, and has been implementing its exclusive H.E.L.P. ® legal plan for worksites of all sizes and industries since 1995.

About Jacobs Music Company:  Jacobs Music Company is the area’s exclusive representative for new and authentically restored Steinway & Sons, and Steinway designed Boston and Essex pianos. Jacobs also represents many other highly respected new and used piano manufacturers from around the world, including Yamaha, Disklavier and Clavinova, all at great values.  Jacobs Music Company has six showrooms, including its flagship location at 1718 Chestnut Street in center city Philadelphia, as well as Willow Grove and Whitehall, PA, Cherry Hill and Lawrenceville, NJ and Wilmington, DE. 

About J.W. Pepper: J.W. Pepper®, based in Exton, PA, is the leading retailer of sheet music in the world. In business for over 130 years, they have 11 store locations and two distribution centers across the country. They review over 21,000 new titles every year and hand-select the very best. Customer care is at the heart of their service. For more information, visit jwpepper.com.

About WRTI: WRTI is a member-supported, public radio station that broadcasts the very best classical music and jazz recordings, and produces innovative, entertaining, and informative content. The station has 14 frequencies, extends west to Harrisburg and north to Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, and reaches as far south as Dover, DE and to the South Jersey shore area.