Chris Hanson Receives National Award and $1,000 Grant for SMHS

submitted by, Iris Campbell

Give a Note Foundation and 21^st Century Fox partnered for the 5^th year in an initiative to award 20 schools across the nation with outstanding music programs with “MusicEd Idols” grants of $1,000 for their programs. The winners were announced at the 2016 National Association for Music Education’s National Music Education Conference in Grapevine, Texas, in mid-November. Among the 20 inspirational music teachers named, two were from Texas, and one of those represented San Marcos: Christopher Hanson, Orchestra Director at San Marcos High School.

From the 20 winning music educators, Hanson was also one of five selected to attend the conference as a VIP guest and take part in a panel discussion on how to help students reach their full potential in music.

“We appreciate the continued support of 21^st Century Fox to reach more schools with the power of music,” said Jane Mell Balek, Give a Note Chief Executive Officer. “This is a wonderful opportunity to shine a spotlight on great music programs which benefit students in all U.S. schools. These stories cannot be told enough, and we encourage communities to support their local school’s music programs and the teachers who make them possible.”

The Give a Note Foundation has raised national awareness since 2011 for programs to support and strengthen music education, reaching countless students and parents and giving more than $1.2 million in direct grants to schools.

Students, parents, and the general public nominated music educators and submitted a video testimonial describing how the music teacher inspired them to find their creative potential.