The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Westlake City School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for their outstanding support and commitment to music education. Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.
Two awards are given each year: Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) for school districts and the SupportMusic Merit Award (SMMA) for individual school sites. Both reach K-12 schools and districts throughout the U.S. and offer opportunities to increase awareness and support for music programs. Over 1,000 districts and individual school sites (public, private, charter, parochial) were recognized for having the highest commitment to producing exceptional music programs.
Hilary Patriok
“We are proud to be awarded the NAMM Best Communities for Music Education for the 5th year in a row. Westlake is a wonderful community to teach in and we are grateful for the support we receive from boosters, administration, parents, and community organizations. Our students are dedicated and work hard to uphold the high standards that have been established by the music faculty throughout the district. I feel blessed to make music with these amazing students every day!” – Hilary Patriok, WHS Director of Instrumental Music
“Being named to the NAMM list for the fifth year in a row is such a meaningful honor for Westlake. Our music department is incredibly thankful to the district, our community, boosters, and families for their constant support of the arts from pre-K all the way through 12th grade. We truly love what we do, and there’s so much joy in watching our students—at every age—grow through music, express themselves, and create memories that will stay with them forever.” – Jennifer Yachanin-Butler, WHS Director of Choral Music
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Westlake City Schools Music Department answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by the leading arts educational research firm, WolfBrown.
About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is the charitable arm of the National Association of Music Merchants, the global trade association for the music products industry. The foundation works to remove systemic barriers that limit access to music-making and career pathways in the music industry. By investing in bold ideas and innovative solutions, we strive to build inclusive and thriving musical communities.
