Owensboro High School band director Aaron Klausing has been named a semifinalist for the CMA Foundation’s Music Teachers of Excellence Award, placing him among more than 200 music educators nationwide recognized for their impact in the classroom and their communities.
The CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, supports music education initiatives nationwide with a focus on equity, access, and excellence.
The national award honors teachers who demonstrate excellence in music education, innovation in teaching, and a commitment to student growth. As a semifinalist, Klausing will advance to the second phase of the selection process, which includes narrative responses, a continuous teaching sample video, and two letters of reference.
Finalists will be announced during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8. Each finalist will receive a $5,000 grant, split evenly between classroom resources and personal professional development.
For Klausing, the recognition carries meaning beyond individual achievement.
“Being named a semifinalist is incredibly humbling because it affirms the long hours, creative risks, and student-centered work that define my teaching,” Klausing said. “When I found out, my first thought wasn’t about me — it was pride in my students and the community that makes our program possible.”
The CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence Award is designed to spotlight educators who use music as a tool for creativity, connection, and student empowerment. Klausing said the next phase of the competition offers an opportunity to highlight what he believes makes the Owensboro High School band program distinctive.
“I want to showcase a classroom built on trust, creativity, and high expectations, where students are challenged musically while being supported as people,” he said. “My teaching philosophy centers on giving students ownership, using performance as storytelling, and helping them find their voice through music.”
Klausing said those principles are embedded in the culture of the OHS band program, which he believes closely aligns with the values the CMA Foundation seeks to recognize.
“The Owensboro High School band program reflects excellence through its balance of musical rigor, innovation, and genuine care for student growth,” he said. “Our focus on collaboration, community engagement, and meaningful performance experiences aligns directly with the CMA Foundation’s mission.”
If Klausing is selected as a finalist, the grant funding would have a direct and practical impact on students, he said, particularly in expanding access and opportunities within the program.
“The grant would go directly toward instruments and resources that expand access and elevate instruction for our students,” Klausing said. “It would allow us to dream bigger artistically while removing financial barriers that can limit student opportunity.”
Klausing also emphasized that his growth as an educator has been shaped by the students he teaches and the broader Owensboro community that supports arts education.
“The Owensboro community and my students have shaped me by constantly reminding me that music education is about connection, not just performance,” he said. “Their support, trust, and willingness to buy into big ideas have pushed me to grow as both an educator and a musician.”
