The Enlarged City School District continued its run of being recognized as one of the nation’s top music programs.

For the 10th straight year, Middletown has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The Best Communities for Music Education designation, now in its 25th year, is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

Middletown is one of 975 school districts recognized across 43 states for the outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, scholars, and community leaders and their support for music education as part of a well-rounded education for all scholars.

“It speaks to the quality of our music educators,” said Amanda Mita, Middletown’s K-12 District Music Coordinator, “our administrators and of course, the enthusiastic participation and engagement of our scholars.

“Our community really supports us. We’ve performed at City Council meetings, Menorah lighting ceremonies, kicked off summer events, races, memorials. It’s not just the school. It truly is a community award.”

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Middletown answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

In addition to our progressive educational, performance-based offerings at every grade level, we’ve added a Mariachi ensemble and Modern Band. We adjusted our offerings based on interest, and created wildly popular district-wide concerts in band, orchestra and chorus this March, to celebrate Music in Our Schools month.

Middletown also offers free summer camps for scholars in grades 3-8, and utilizes our high school musicians in leadership and mentoring roles.

“Here at Middletown,” Mrs. Mita said, “we eliminate the economic barriers that often serve as a deterrent for our potential young musicians by providing instruments, enrollment fees, transportation to and from out-of-district events, access to visiting artist-educators who not only perform, but serve as clinicians.”