Owensboro Public Schools received the distinction of Best Communities for Music Education for the 5th consecutive year.
The distinction comes from the National Association of Music Merchants. The NAMM Foundation is a nationwide organization that recognizes schools on a school and district level.
“I think it’s even more special that we’re receiving it as an entire district because it just recognizes our commitment to making sure our students have music education opportunities that are high quality and equitable across our whole district, from K-12,” Coordinator of Fine Arts at OPS Kara Smith said.
To receive the award, Smith said the system had to detail all their music education efforts.
One of the areas that the application asked for was the ability of students to perform in a large space auditorium. Smith said for them, the Fine Arts Festival plays a part in receiving this distinction.
With an event of the caliber of the Fine Arts Festival, she said the annual art show gives students of all ages a chance to perform in a state-of-the-art facility for a crowd that many schools may not have otherwise.
“It really shows off just all of the work that is taking place on a daily basis in all of our arts programs and kind of having that moment to be in the spotlight and be showcased within the community,” Smith said.
This year, five schools received the honor. While the recognition speaks to the quality of education provided by the teachers, Smith said it also showcases the wider support throughout the entire district.
“It shows the appreciation and support that our school board, our school district and all of our individual school buildings put into music education, and I just am so excited that we have gotten this recognition,” Smith said.
