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Tell Us About Your Favorite Music Teacher!

Wissahickon Middle School music teacher Bill Cain receiving the 2014 Ovation Award from Louis Scaglione, president and music director of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, at the Kimmel Center.

Has a music teacher profoundly impacted your life? If so, then the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) wants to hear all about that teacher. WRTI is partnering with the PYO to draw attention to the many talented and dedicated music educators in the Delaware Valley, and is now seeking nominees for its second annual Ovation Award for Inspiration and Outstanding Leadership in Music Education. Do you have a favorite music teacher in mind?

Please help the PYO select this year’s winner, to be announced live at their 75th annual Festival Concert on May 31, 2015 at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall. WRTI's Jack Moore will host the event. Applications are due on March 26th. Submission details can be found here.

Maestro Louis Scaglione (president and music director of PYO) will present the winner with a trophy and the grand prize award, which includes a check for $1,000 from the H.E.L.P. Foundation and a $500 gift card from J.W. Pepper. Jacobs Music Company will provide plaques for all finalists and a crystal trophy for the winner. Nine finalists will each receive a $100 cash prize from H.E.L.P. and a $100 gift card from J.W. Pepper.

The nominator of the winner will receive a $250 Visa gift card from an anonymous donor.

Last year’s winner was Bill Cain, a beloved music teacher and band director at Wissahickon Middle School in the Wissahickon School District, located in Montgomery County. "This is the best recognition for an educator that anyone could ever have!" said Cain. "Thank you for reminding all music teachers that we are not alone in this battle for music to survive, and how important it is for music to stay on the daily schedule in our schools."

Take a look at last year's finalists here!

And nominate your favorite music teacher, today!