Park City School District earns national recognition for music education excellence

PARK CITY, Utah — For the second year in a row, Park City School District has been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation, a national honor that highlights the district’s long-standing commitment to music instruction across all grade levels.

Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students. Park City joins over 1,000 school districts and individual campuses across the country in receiving the 2025 honor.

“Receiving the NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education Award for the second straight year is a validation of a decades-long commitment Park City School District has made to music education,” said Bret Hughes, the district’s fine arts coordinator. “We are proof that having licensed music educators in front of kids from the minute they start school—and requiring music for all students until they complete 6th grade—not only impacts their knowledge and skills in music but also positively affects their success in all other academic areas.”

Educators across the district echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the value of music education in students’ overall development. At Trailside Elementary, Principal Tracy Fike credited music teacher Mary Morgan’s enthusiasm for helping students connect with music through engaging performances and daily instruction.

At Ecker Hill Middle School, Band Director Zach Giddings described music as a unifying force in the classroom. “Music creates a space where all students can be included and united with a common goal to sound excellent,” he said. “It’s a creative outlet that helps kids become more collaborative, resilient, and thoughtful.”

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported by the National Association of Music Merchants, and its annual awards aim to highlight the importance of music learning in schools across the U.S.