MMEA to honor Longmeadow music program

Date: 3/21/2011

March 21, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW — The renowned music education program in Longmeadow Public Schools will receive more accolades March 24 through 26 as a popular teacher, top-level chorus and community activist are recognized during the Massachusetts Music Educator's Association's (MMEA) annual All-State Conference in Boston.

Michael Mucci, Music Department chair and instrumental music teacher at Longmeadow High School (LHS), has been selected by fellow music educators in MMEA as one of the recipients of this year's distinguished Lowell Mason Awards.

Named for the Medfield, Mass., native who is credited with introducing the concept of teaching music in public schools during the late 19th Century, the Lowell Mason Award is presented annually to individuals who are deemed to have made significant contributions to music and music education and have also demonstrated outstanding leadership in their field.

Kayla Werlin, director of vocal music at LHS, nominated Mucci for the award.

Daniel Albert, director of bands at Glenbrook and Williams middle schools, said, "It's quite an honor for a colleague to be nominated, it really shows that the person is held in very high regard. The award recognizes the contributions that person has given to their school district as well [as their work] advancing music in the state."

Mucci, who has been teaching instrumental music in Longmeadow for 33 years and also instructs students at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, said he was both humbled and surprised by his selection for this year's Lowell Award.

"I'm really flattered, because the award is given by your colleagues and fellow music teachers," Mucci told Reminder Publications. "There are so many good music teachers across the state."

Adding that his many years at LHS have seemed to fly by, he said, "I love teaching teenagers and I love music, the combination for me is intoxicating." Mucci said he felt "fortunate" in his career choice.

"I landed right where I was supposed to be," he said.

LHS's honors mixed choral group, Lyrics, has also been selected for recognition at this year's conference, receiving the opportunity to perform during one of the event's coveted Concert Hours.

"I'm very proud of the students," Werlin said. "They work so hard and so often [their performance] is only seen in our small corner of the world."

Albert said he nominated Longmeadow couple Michele Kane Moore and Christopher Moore for the annual MMEA Music Advocate Award.

The Music Advocate Award, Albert said, is presented to individuals, organizations or communities who have been active as music advocates in their schools and/or communities, who have demonstrated leadership in communicating with fellow parents, the schools and administrators and who have also led an effort for a community to make a financial commitment for music education.

The Moores, Albert said, were outspoken advocates for the fifth grade music program when the Longmeadow School Committee considered eliminating the program in early 2010 because of budget concerns. They organized parents, students and alumni to speak to the importance of the program.

Their work, he said, convinced the committee to find a way to continue funding the program, which was reinstated in July 2010 for fiscal year 2011.

"We didn't know we were nominated," Michele said, adding that she and Christopher found out about the award through an e-mail from Albert. "We were tremendously honored by [it]."

Michele was also quick to point out that preserving the music program was not something she and her husband accomplished alone.

"It really takes a community to keep something like this alive," Michele continued. "It takes many, many people."