Albion’s music program earns national recognition for 10th straight year
File photo: The Albion Marching Band heads down Main Street last June during the Strawberry Festival parade.
Photos by Tom Rivers: Sophia Zambito helps Laiken Ricker with her makeup before Friday’s performance of Tarzan by Albion High School students. Sophia and Laiken were both gorillas in the musical. Albion’s musicials each year win recognitions through the Stars of Tomorrow program through the Rochester Broadway Theater League
ALBION – The Albion music program has stretched its streak to 10 straight years of being on a national list of schools with music programs cited for excellence by the North American Music Merchants.
NAMM has named Albion and 526 other school districts in the country as a “Best Communities for Music Education.”
The NAMM organization gives out the award to recognize districts that make music a priority, especially in an era of tight school budgets and packed student schedules. Only 3.9 percent of school districts in the country are on the current list. Albion is the only district from Orleans County on the list. Holley has previously made the list.
“Congratulations to the 527 school districts that are among the Best Communities in the nation for music education,” NAMM said in announcing the honorees. “The award program recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of the curriculum.”
Albion runs an active music program in the elementary, middle and high schools. The high school puts on two full-scale musical and students also perform in several different instrumental and choral groups. In all, high school musicians perform numerous times during the school year. The Jazz Band Cabaret (April 22 at 2 and 4 p.m.) is next on busy schedule of music events.
The middle school puts on two musicals each year, and its students perform with the marching and jazz bands. Elementary music teachers lead students in performances throughout the year.
To see the list of school districts recognized by NAMM, click here.
Hannah Van Epps helps Chase Froman with his makeup. Chase played the leopard last week when Albion students performed the Tarzan musical. Albion does four full-scale musicals each year, with two by the middle school and two by high school students.
