Chris Young, Hunter Hayes, Kix Brooks, Charlie Worsham, & Craig Wayne Boyd deliver a special message To CMA Foundation and Music Teachers

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For many of us, music is a way of healing. It is often said that music speaks when words fail. For artists, music lives in their soul. As children, most often music came alive through our music teachers in grade school. 

Though parents may have dreaded the early stages of school music through the learning of the often loud and unbearable sounds of the recorder, it was the curiosity of it and the thrill of turning out of tune notes into "Hot Cross Buns" that created a desire to learn more. Students may start out as "barely-a-tone" students as my former band director Mr. Kanstul once told me, but with continued passion, desire, guidance, and practice they will blossom into talented musicians.

Without music, the world would be a much noisier place. With its ability to calm you, heal you, drowned out the negativity of the world, and inspire you to create a vibrant and happy life, music is without a doubt one of the biggest necessities in life. Not only is music is one of the most profound universal languages, it is the one thing that most people have in common. The world loves music.

Sadly, music programs are not at the top of priorities within the school system. With teachers often having to fight for their music programs as well as spending much of their own time finding ways to provide musical equipment to their students, the CMA Foundation has decided to step in and help. 

After interviewing several music teachers, The CMA Foundation realized that many of these music teachers were feeling unappreciated. Believing that music is a right for all students and recognizing the importance of music in schools and the part it plays in a child's development, the CMA Foundation launched the CMA Music Teachers Of Excellence event in 2016. 

This event recognizes music teachers for their accomplishments in the classroom as well as their community. Since its inception, this event has raised over $400,000 to support our Music Teachers of Excellence recipients.

The 2018 CMA Music Teachers Of Excellence took place at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. The night's M.C.  was nonother than Nashville's own award-winning country artist Chris Young. Young's passion for music, music teachers, and the community filled the air. His generosity for one musician, in particular, brought many to tears. 

Darius Edwards performed a beautiful piece of music on stage with a borrowed alto saxophone. After Young encouraged Edward's to share his campaign with the attendees on how he is raising funds to purchase a professional saxophone, Young then proceeded to present the young musician with a check for $6000 to purchase the instrument. Without hesitation, Young immediately explained to Edwards that he would also be matching that donation. Words cannot express the feeling that came over that entire room as they watched this young musician beam with elation and gratitude. 

As a special thank you to the CMA Foundation, their Music Teachers Of Excellence, and all other music teachers, we present you with a few words from Chris Young, Hunter Hayes, Charlie Worsham, Craig Wayne Boyd, and Kix Brooks. We thank you all for your efforts in keeping music alive and helping our children with their creative development. 

For a list of the 2018 Music Teachers Of Excellence recipients, please click here.