The Country Music Association Proudly Shares Its 2026 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence
Celebrating 10 Years of Honoring Educators Who Use the Power of Music to Transform Lives.
Music Industry Leaders Join Planning Committee to Support 10th Annual Gala, Taking Place Wednesday, October 7 at The Pinnacle in Nashville.
Meet the 2026 Music Teachers of Excellence.
NASHVILLE—Ten years after making a commitment to honor the educators who bring music into classrooms across the country, the Country Music Association is proud to share the 2026 class of CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence, honoring 30 extraordinary educators across 12 states who are using the power of music to transform lives.
Presented through CMA’s philanthropic arm, the CMA Foundation, Music Teachers of Excellence is one of the most visible ways the industry gives back. The program leverages the reach and influence of Country Music to elevate music education across the U.S., shining a national spotlight on the teachers building stronger, more well-rounded young people every day. Research has shown that music education improves academic achievement, increases classroom engagement, and supports social and emotional development, while nurturing the creativity, collaboration, and deep love of music that lasts a lifetime. Now in its landmark 10th year, the program has now recognized more than 200 educators, with its legacy defined not by a single moment of recognition, but by the lasting impact those teachers have had on the students and communities they serve.
The CMA Foundation was established in 2011 to transform lives through the power of music education. Headquartered in Nashville and backed by the Country Music industry, the nonprofit invests in high-quality programs that ensure all students have equitable access to music. By partnering with music industry leaders and like-minded organizations, the CMA Foundation directs research-informed funding where it makes the greatest impact—empowering teachers through professional development, equipping classrooms with essential resources, and creating life-changing opportunities for students who might not otherwise have them.
“Ten years ago, we made a promise to the educators who dedicate their lives to music education: we see you, and we’re with you,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “Music Teachers of Excellence was built on the belief that our industry has a responsibility to invest in the people building the pipeline of music lovers, artists, and fans for generations to come. This milestone year isn’t just a celebration of these 30 remarkable educators. It’s a celebration of the legacy we have built together, and a reminder of how much more we can do when the music industry unites around a shared cause.”
The 2026 class will be celebrated at a red carpet gala on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at The Pinnacle in Nashville, a night that brings together teachers, artists, community leaders, and music industry professionals to honor the educators whose work will define the legacy of music education for decades to come. Honorees are also invited to participate in a year of professional development and engagement with CMA’s broader industry network, including curated experiences at CMA events that provide behind-the-scenes access to the business of Country Music.
To further elevate the milestone event, CMA has again assembled a Music Teachers of Excellence Planning Committee, comprised of leaders from across the music industry and beyond who are lending their voices, networks, and resources to support the gala’s production and the honorees’ overall experience. Planning Committee members include: Sloane Cavitt Logue (WME), Jackie Augustus (Spotify), Rachel Brittain (CAA), Beth Carter (CNN), Hayley Corbett (Artist Manager), Sarah DeMarco, Sara Foster (TV and Live Event Producer), JoJamie Hahr (BMG), Olivia Hanceri (OH Creative), Halie Hampton Mosley (WHY&HOW), Lucia Kaminsky (Sandbox Entertainment), Rakiyah Marshall England (Back Blocks Music), Morgan Mills (CMDSHFT), Marcel Pariseau (True Public Relations), Jake Roggenbuck, Chandler Sherrill (Electric Feel), Mark Thomas (Propeller), and Hannah Wilson (MCA).
“Serving on this committee for a second year has only reinforced my belief that this is some of the most meaningful work our industry does,” says Sloane Cavitt Logue, WME Partner & Head of Client Strategy and Music Teachers of Excellence Planning Committee Chair. “When I look at the people who show up year after year to support this program, and the teachers who walk into that room feeling seen by an entire industry, I’m reminded of why this work matters. Giving back isn’t just something our industry does, it’s part of who we are. Being part of this committee is a privilege, and the legacy being built one classroom, one teacher, one student at a time is something I’m proud to be a part of.”
This year’s honorees represent 12 states and work across every corner of music education, from choir and band to orchestra, percussion, piano, and fine arts. Selected through a rigorous application process that considers instructional excellence, innovation in the classroom, and a demonstrated commitment to leadership, collaboration, and student success, each honoree receives a $5,000 award split evenly between personal use and their classroom or program. Honorees plan to direct their stipends toward new instruments, recording equipment, sheet music, guest composers, after-school clubs, and student scholarships, among other needs. In recognition of the program’s 10th anniversary, the CMA Foundation is also launching the MTOE Alumni Network, a first-of-its-kind community connecting more than 200 honorees across a decade of the program to ongoing resources, relationships, and support.
Meet the 30 transformative educators shaping the next generation through music—the 2026 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence:
Midwest
- David Hutter, Maine South High School, Park Ridge, IL
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
- Kyle Cook, Western Branch Middle School, Chesapeake, VA
- Ryan Mack, P.S. 10 Magnet School of Math, Science, & Design Technology, Brooklyn, NY
- Kevin McDonald, Wellesley High School, Wellesley, MA
- Alice Tsui, New Bridges Elementary School, Brooklyn, NY
Southeast
- Lucy Alegria, Gallatin High School, Gallatin, TN
- Michael Aymett, Riverdale High School, Murfreesboro, TN
- Trevor Baxter, Centennial High School, Franklin, TN
- Melissa Blizzard, Stevens Creek Elementary School, Martinez, GA
- Johnny Croft, Cane Ridge High School, Antioch, TN
- Julia Culp, Freedom Middle School, Franklin, TN
- Elmer Feliciano, McMurray Middle School, Nashville, TN
- Aurora Foster, Woodland Middle School, Brentwood, TN
- Darlene Grande, Stonewyck Elementary School, Orlando, FL
- Sherie Grossman, James Lawson High School, Nashville, TN
- Tony Hartman, Scales Elementary School, Murfreesboro, TN
- Kinsey Healy, Houston High School, Germantown, TN
- Samuel Holmes, Garden Hills Elementary School, Atlanta, GA
- Allen Kennedy, Hume-Fogg Academic High School, Nashville, TN
- Taylor Kollmeier, Page High School, Franklin, TN
- Ashleigh Ledford, Sterling School, Greenville, SC
- Ollie Liddell, Memphis Central High School, Memphis, TN
- Nathaniel O’Neal, DuPont Hadley Middle School, Old Hickory, TN
- Michael Perryman, Ooltewah Elementary School, Ooltewah, TN
Southwest
- Efrain Casillas, Desert Oasis Elementary School and Porfirio H. Gonzales Elementary School, Phoenix, AZ
- Corey Graves, Themer Middle School, Forney, TX
West
- Grace Kwon, Stoddard Elementary School, Anaheim, CA
- Darlene Machacon, La Quinta High School, Westminster, CA
- Henry Miller, Sierra Vista Middle School, Irvine, CA
- Kimberly Ritzer, Green Valley High School, Henderson, NV
About the CMA Foundation
The CMA Foundation transforms lives through the power of music education. Established by the Country Music Association in 2011 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) invests in high-quality programs that ensure all students have access to music. In partnership with the music industry and like-minded nonprofits, the CMA Foundation directs research-informed funding where it makes the greatest impact—empowering music teachers through professional development, providing resources for classrooms and programs, and creating life-changing opportunities for students.
Tags: CMA, Music Teachers of Excellence, CMA Foundation, Music Education, Nashville, Gala, Country Music, Educators, Music Industry, Awards, Transform Lives, 2026
