NT_020719

24 | February 7, 2019 | The Northbrook tower news
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D28 music program receives
two national awards
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Northbrook District 28
has been honored with
two Advocacy in Action
Awards from Music for All,
Inc., a national music education
organization.
The Advocacy in Action
Award designation is presented
to music programs,
schools and communities
across the United States
that demonstrate outstanding
achievement in efforts
to provide access to music
education for all students.
District 28 received
awards in two categories,
Recruitment & Retention:
Gold award for “Alumni
Band Festival” and Decision-Maker
Interaction:
Bronze award for “Success
through Collaboration.” A
national panel of educators,
administrators, community
leaders and business leaders
selected the winners.
The Alumni Band Festival
is a biennial event
celebrating the tradition of
excellence in the band program.
The event is held in
December on alternating
years, scheduled strategically
to attract alumni who
will be home from college
for winter break and close
to the time when eighthgraders
will register for
freshman classes.
Over the years, returning
alumni have spanned more
than 50 years. Alumni can
participate at a variety of
levels. Regardless of the
participation, it is meaningful
to our students.
The Decision-Maker Interaction
award, “Success
Through Collaboration,”
represents the value the
district places on music
education and its impact on
students.
“A culture of respect
The Alumni Band Festival, last held in 2017, brings
together alumni band members and current members
of the Northbrook Junior High band to play together.
The event, directed by Greg Scapillato, won the Gold
award in Recruitment and Retention from the Advocacy
in Action Awards of Music for All, Inc. District 28 also
received a bronze award in Decision-Maker Interaction
for “Success Through Collaboration.” Photo Submitted
and support between the
administration and the music
educators in District 28
benefits students, and contributes
to thriving music
programs,” band director
Greg Scapillato writes in
the application. “It is the
constant nurturing of this
collaborative relationship
that is a hallmark of
Northbrook School District
28, and is accomplished
through active efforts from
both administrators and
music educators.”
The District 28 instrumental
music program has
four concert bands, beginning
with fourth grade, and
five orchestras, beginning
in third grade. The choral
ensembles begin in sixth
grade and rehearse during
lunch periods or before
school. The bands and orchestras
rehearse as full
ensembles before school,
in addition to receiving private
or semi-private lessons
once a week during the
school day. Between the
bands, choirs, and orchestras,
over 700 students are
involved in the performing
ensembles in District 28.
Beyond the performing
ensembles, general music
in District 28 has a rich curriculum
for K-5 students,
provided as a class for 30
minutes, twice per week. At
the elementary level, this
curriculum culminates for
first through fourth grades
with Winter Sing performances
and a spring musical
for fifth grade. At the
junior high level, students
have a range of options to
explore music-making as
an elective as well as an annual
musical in the spring
of each year.
“In the end, we all believe
and have the same
philosophy, that music education
is good for our children’s
brains and it’s good
for their souls,” said Superintendent
Larry Hewitt.
District 28’s two awards
are part of the Music for
All Advocacy in Action
website (advocacy.musicforall.org
) which is a clearinghouse
of practical advocacy
examples that can
be adapted and replicated
by programs nationwide.
By collecting, recognizing
and sharing outstanding
examples of local advocacy
efforts, Music for All
ultimately hopes to inspire
others across the nation to
take action in their own
communities.