Park City School District receives national music education award

Park City School District has been identified as a "Best Community for Music Education" by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). Photo: Park City High School Music Department

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City School District (PCSD) has been awarded the prestigious Best Communities for Music Education designation by The NAMM Foundation.

This recognition is part of a national initiative celebrating its 25th anniversary, highlighting districts that excel in providing comprehensive music education.

The selection criteria for this accolade involve a thorough evaluation of various aspects of the program, including funding, graduation requirements, participation in music classes, instructional time, facilities, and community music initiatives. PCSD’s application, confirmed by school officials and analyzed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas, detailed these efforts.

Bret Hughes, the district’s fine arts coordinator, expressed pride in their long-standing dedication to music education.

“PCSD’s commitment to ensuring access to high-quality music education for students K-12 represents, in my view, our most significant achievement,” Hughes said in a press release. He highlighted the district’s policy of hiring certified music teachers for all grade levels, ensuring that students aged five to 18 receive professional music instruction. Particularly notable is the requirement for all 6th graders to participate in performance-based music classes.

“PCSD’s unwavering dedication to music education from kindergarten through twelfth grade plays a key role in enhancing our district’s overall academic success, even though the impact is difficult to quantify,” Hughes said.

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported by the National Association of Music Merchants.