J.E Moss Elementary School student artwork

Metro Nashville Public Schools continues to encourage the students of Nashville to pursue their dreams through artistic endeavors.

TPAC applauds the district’s efforts to integrate more arts into the lives of young people and provide them with the encouragement and support they need to become this community’s future leaders.

Here’s some recent stories from the world of MNPS that may brighten your day.

*Information compiled from MNPS District Update, a blog keeping the community informed about Metro Schools’ happenings.

MNPS celebrated Arts in Education week Sept. 8-14

McGavock High School theater production of Hairspray

National Arts in Education Week is a celebration recognizing the transformative power of the arts in education. Designated by Congress in 2010 through House Resolution 275, the celebration is designated to bring attention to this cause for elected officials and educational decision makers across the country and to support equitable access to the arts for all students.

MNPS students, educators, parents and principals, found unique ways to celebrate the arts in education during this special week. National Arts in Education Week takes place annually during the week beginning with the second Sunday of September. Save the date for future celebrations: September 13-19, 2020 and September 12-18, 2021.

Hunters Lane receives $84,000 donation of musical instruments

Hunters Lane High School students with new instruments

Hunters Lane students were surprised recently when the curtain of their school auditorium stage opened to reveal new musical instruments, a gift to their school totaling $84,000.

The reveal of gleaming trumpets, sousaphones and flutes by StubHub’s General Manager of Music Jeff Poirier came during a performance by country artist Chris Lane, who got sing-a-long support from students when he sang his hit Take Back Home Girl.

The donation, which also includes 100 chairs for music students, is part of StubHub’s #TicketForward program, in partnership with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation ‐ a three‐year commitment to put more than $3 million in instruments into public school music programs. Band and orchestra instruments can cost $500 to $5,000.

Hume-Fogg student named classical student composer

Hume-Fogg Magnet High School student Kevin Ou

Congratulations to Hume-Fogg Magnet High School student Kevin Ou who was the recipient of the first 91Classical Student Composer Fellowship from Nashville Public Radio. The ninth-grade fellow has played the piano since third grade and later picked up the violin in the middle school orchestra. He began writing solo pieces in seventh grade and composed a piece for his school orchestra which premiered during his eighth-grade orchestra’s winter concert.

Ou, along with three other Nashville recipients, will study composition throughout the 2019-20 school year with musical mentors. They will have opportunities to meet composers visiting Nashville and to observe professional musical ensembles in action. In June 2020, they will each premiere a piece in a live broadcast on 91Classical’s show Live in Studio C.

Learn more about the program.

Eddie George surprises East Nashville High School players

Former Tennessee Titan and TPAC Board Member Eddie George surprised East Nashville High School players with new football equipment, helmets, tickets to a Titans game and a check for $10,000 for the school. The donation was made possible through the Tennessee Titans, Campbell’s Chunky Soup and Riddell Sports.

Watch the video below.

Reach Michael Aldrich on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter @michaelwaldrich.