Two Michigan high schools have been selected as Grammy Signature schools, an honor that is awarded to only 13 schools in the nation each year.
Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor and Allendale High School in West Michigan, both received the honor and will be receiving grants to help continue its music programs. Pioneer has won the award eight times and this is Allendale’s second win.
Pioneer High School won a gold status award. Gold status is an honor given to two high schools that have exceptional music programs with high quality instruction in multiple music genres. The school will receive a $3,500 grant.
Jonathan Glawe is the orchestra director at Pioneer High School. He said that in the Ann Arbor schools, every students learns an instrument in the fifth grade.
“We have invested both financially and with our time into making our program great,” Glawe said. “We are very fortunate that in Ann Arbor, we take care of the arts.”
Allendale High School won an Enterprise Award, which is given to programs that have financial need and a plan to address its challenges.
Tony Bush is the band director at Allendale High School. He says they will use the money to buy new music instruments.
“Our whole community is very excited about it,” Bush said. “We are not a low income, but we are not high income either and to have school-provided instruments to practice on is a big help to many families.”
The Grammy Signature Schools program was created in 1998 to recognize U.S. public schools that show commitment to music education. The school will be awarded a $5,500 grant.
The Pioneer music department will have a celebratory concert on Thursday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Schreiber Auditorium at the high school. Allendale had its concert earlier.
Glawe said that the concert will have a variety of music including jazz, a capella choir, symphonic orchestra and symphony band.
