It hardly seems fair, but a large number of high schools, colleges and universities are staring the end of summer in the face and laying plans already for a return to campus life.  For many such learning places the pursuit of knowledge is to some degree cloaked in the visual or performing arts and expressed by administrators, faculty persons, or students who love music as a creative discipline.  Schools where the humanities thrive are special to me, particularly those that boast an emphasis in music.   I believe music makes us more — more human, more content, more enlightened.   I further believe  these communities of learners, educators and performers are important to the social fabric precisely because they are exploring music on behalf of the rest of us; trying to live and breathe the art form as a complete experience in order to tease out beauty from human culture’s every nook and cranny.   

Each time I visit such a community I am in touch once more with two of the things that interest me most: the well-being of young people on the verge of adult life and the state of music education in today’s society.  A good part of my average workday is spent thinking about  and appealing to various philosophies, theories and applications of curriculum that feed music education.  I spend many hours alone and with others trying to understand the experience of the artist and exploring ways to help young artists and those responsible for their formation.  I go to meetings, I talk to groups, I raise funds, I plan programs, I organize projects.  This sets me apart from people engaged in the actual learning and teaching of musical arts.  As music makers they are the ones who plumb the poetry, who parse the phrase, who tell the tales and paint word pictures that express life’s most important themes.  They sing our songs to us and for us. And just for doing this, just for the fact of being dedicated to the twin tasks of enlightening and elevating, they deserve to be admired.  

Several winners of this year’s GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE awards will enter college for the first time in the weeks ahead.  (Daniel Farmer will attend the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Ryan Mack will attend Tallahassee’s FAMU and Azschrielle Jackson will attend UNF in Jacksonville.)  Besides the tuition asistance grants they have earned, we are sending along with them the gift of song.  On your behalf, I offer them encouragement and love as well.  I urge them to cling fast to their dreams, and to remain attentive to the music of their souls. Fare ye well!