2010 Award Recipient: Marian Cheney
Warner Music Canada recording artists, Billy Talent, were on hand to help MusiCounts present the 2010 Teacher of the Year Award to well deserving recipient, Marian Cheney. The award, generously sponsored by Billy Talent, was handed out at The Hard Rock Cafe in Toronto. In its sixth year, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award recognizes the incredible, dedicated and hard-working music teachers who help keep music alive for so many young Canadians. The event was capped off with a performance by one of the Queen Victoria Public School ensembles taught by Ms. Cheney.
“We are proud to bestow the 6th annual MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award to Marian Cheney,” said Steve Cranwell, Executive Director, MusiCounts. “Her dedication to enhancing the lives of her students and the devotion she has shown to both her school and her community for the last two decades is more than exceptional. When you combine this kind of hard work and commitment with a flourishing music program, the students in that school are able to realize a wealth of potential within themselves, both inside the classroom and out.”
“Music has the power to change lives,” said Marian. The past twenty years of Ms. Cheney’s twenty-three year teaching career have been spent at the Queen Victoria Public School. While at the Parkdale area school in Toronto, she has welcomed many new students from immigrant and low-income families to her classes. Her policy is that no child is turned away from band or choir based on his / her ability or family financial situation. She is very involved in the school’s vocal and choir programs as well as guitar ensemble and concert band. An excellent songwriter, Ms. Cheney is credited with co-writing the current school theme song. It is her goal to have visibility for the school’s music groups, seeking as many opportunities as possible for them to perform publicly. She prides herself on the academic achievement of her students, watching them graduate as well rounded musically literate pupils and performers. Ms. Cheney also oversees the school’s running club.
“We are honoured to be part of this year’s MusiCounts program! Having lived in the west end of Toronto, Aaron and myself both in Parkdale, this is extra special,” says Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent. “Having teachers like Marian gives us all hope that the kids of tomorrow are in good hands. Our music class in high school (where we met 17 years ago) had a huge impact on the band as we got to meet like-minded people and start the creative process of learning our instruments. We hope that with the continued dedication from Marian and the donation we’re providing, that the same opportunities and doors will open for some other lucky people. To Marian and everyone at the Queen Victoria Public School…Let the music fill your hearts and hallways.”
The $10,000 cheque to Ms. Cheney, along with a $10,000 cheque given to David Finkelstein, Principal of Queen Victoria Public School, to go to their school music program was contributed by Billy Talent. Ms. Cheney will also receive also receive a ticket package for the 2011 JUNO Awards and a handcrafted award commissioned by Canadian glass artist Shirley Elford, past designer of the JUNO Award statuettes.
2009 Award Recipient: Scott Leonard
MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS, has named Scott Leonard of Bridgewater’s Park View Education Centre (PVEC) the fifth annual winner of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. JUNO Award winning artist and Nova Scotia native, Anne Murray, presented Leonard with this prestigious award.
Leonard has been a devoted mentor to music students for 24 years, 21 of which he has spent at Park View. Leonard epitomizes the spirit of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award as his commitment to music education extends far beyond the classroom. He was the director of Park View’s first school musical and also teaches at Lunenburg County Band Camp where he frequently coaches former graduates.
Leonard teaches guitar, band, and embraces innovative new ideas, having created his own class – Recording Arts Technology. His talent and charisma led to numerous opportunities to join bands, but Scott chose to channel his skills and energy through teaching and mentorship, for which PVEC students are extremely grateful. When PVEC was unable to hire a new music teacher, Leonard added more classes to his already demanding schedule.
His commitment to the music program and to providing the more
than 175 students he teaches with a range of skills and values they’ll use throughout their lives are just some of the reasons he has been recognized as Nova Scotia’s first MusiCounts Teacher of the Year.
“Scott is an inspiration to us all,” said Charles Williamson, Principal of Park View Education Centre. “He is a terrific role model for his students and is someone who has gone beyond his professional expectations to ensure that music programming is sustained and is successful. His enthusiasm for music is contagious, and he has instilled passion in both his students and the community at large.”
Leonard’s passion for teaching and love of music has been an inspiration to his students who, under his leadership, have been able to explore different styles of music and to grow artistically. Whatever their career choices, they will carry the skills and values that Leonard has stressed in his teaching: teamwork, commitment and community spirit.
“I am so grateful to everyone who played a role in my journey here today. Teaching music is an extremely rewarding career and one that has afforded me the opportunity to work with exceptionally talented and passionate individuals,” Leonard said. “Through music, one can have a real impact on people’s lives, and through them, the broader community.”
2008 Award Recipient: Alex Voros
The 2008 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award was sponsored by multiple JUNO Award-winning group and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee The Tragically Hip. Band members Gord Downie, Gord Sinclair and Paul Langlois were on hand for the presentation to Alex Voros of Chaminade College School in Toronto.
Alex was the fourth recipient of the annual MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award and the first recipient from Toronto. He has taught music for over 30 years with the greater part of the last decade spent at Chaminade College School. Under his leadership, the music program has become a vital aspect of school culture and an award-winning component of the school’s profile. Because of this success, Chaminade College’s band program is often oversubscribed.
Alex has taught instrumental music to over 200 students each year. Principal Michael Wallace, who nominated Alex for the Award, describes him as “a model of dedication to his discipline and to the teaching profession at large.”
Alex’s program produces some large band ensembles – the largest has over 70 members. His bands have beaten out both U.S. and Canadian bands in North American competitions, and he has always maintained his goal of shaping his students to have a classical perspective of music and a true appreciation for the arts.
Many of his students have continued with their post-secondary music education and some have even become successful entrepreneurs in the music industry. Alex’s dedication to the music program inspires a deep affiliation among band members. Because of this, students develop self confidence and carry this assurance into other areas of their curriculum.
Many parents also attest to Alex’s devotion to his students, many of whom develop a passion for music that is often non-existent before the time spent in Alex’s music classes. One parent describes their son as “a better musician, a better student, and a better person overall.” Alex allows his students to express themselves creatively and emotionally and nurtures community involvement. The love for music that he is able to instill in all his students is something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. His music room, as he describes, is “a safe haven where students are welcomed, encouraged and where magical things can happen.”
Chaminade College School was the recipient of a Band Aid musical instrument Grant from MusiCounts in 2006-07.
2007 Award Recipient: Bernard Hébert
With 32 years of musical teaching experience under his belt, Bernard Hébert is the longest serving music teacher nominated (to date) for the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. Furthermore, he has spent 28 of those years at the same school – Polyvalente Nicolas-Gatineau High School in Gatineau, Quebec.
Through his hard work and dedication, he has been able to forge great relationships and impact the lives of his students.
He has brought the joy of music to over 5,000 students over his lengthy career, involving them in a wide variety of music programs, including Concert Band, Jazz Band, Concentration Music, Pop Band, Music Appreciation and Musicals. Monsieur Hébert, himself, has the ability to play ALL the instruments he teaches and, does many of the required repairs to the instruments.
Monsieur Hébert’s bands perform publicly on an annual basis. Public performances have included the Festival des Harmonies de Sherbrooke and Festival de Musique Kiwanis a Ottawa. The Band has won Gold in all categories and placed second in all of Quebec (2005).
His incredible bond with his students and the community is apparent through the huge number of support letters from both his current and former students and the Mayor of Gatineau! Jean Desmarais, a student of Monsieur Hébert from 1978-1982 and now professional musician, writes “even after 20 years, I still run into classmates after my concerts and I know very well that if they had not studied with Bernard, they would not have the same love for music.”
For Monsieur Hébert, there is nothing more important than music and his students, and every student is given equal opportunity in his classroom. Time and time again, this extraordinary music teacher has done far more than what was expected of him. When traveling with a handicapped student on a non-wheelchair accessible bus he carried the child on and off the bus, so he wouldn’t miss out!
Monsieur Hébert has also been able to gain considerable media exposure for the school, and specifically, the music program. Throughout his extensive career, Bernard Hébert has touched the lives of thousands of youth and others within the school community. There is no doubt that Monsieur Hébert has enlightened, empowered and elevated these young Canadians.
2006 Award Recipient: Anne Turner
This year, The MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award was sponsored by Canadian superstar and 5-time JUNO winner, Michael Bublé. Since the release of his groundbreaking 2003 debut album on 143 Records/Reprise, this richly gifted young artist has literally been around the world an astonishing eight times, playing for audiences large and small and, in the process, connecting with music lovers of every description.
“In an era where supposedly non-essential courses are being cut back due to budget constraints, it’s wonderful to hear how a teacher like Anne Turner, who has used music as a learning tool and by doing so, bettered the lives of all the students she has touched,” said Mr. Bublé.
2005 Award Recipient: Norman McIntosh
The inaugural MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award was sponsored by legendary rock group, The Rolling Stones.
The Rolling Stones have spent much time in Toronto over the last few years as they rehearsed for various international tours. They heard about the new CARAS initiative through MusiCounts committee member Bob Ezrin and jumped on board with their support. The Rolling Stones sent a special video message, presented during the Award ceremony congratulating Award recipient, Norman McIntosh.
