Manilow and Mario Banks, the Manilow Music Teacher Award winner in Newark, NJ. Photo Credit: Mark Ashe 

When the apparently ageless Barry Manilow returns to the road in late July to continue his U.S. arena tour, news today revealed that "he'll once again use the spotlight to recognize the people who inspire the next generation of musicians. At every stop, the GRAMMY®, TONY®, and EMMY® Award-winning icon will present the Manilow Music Teacher Award, honoring an outstanding local music educator whose passion and dedication have made a lasting impact on their students and community."

Manilow will present a whole lot of giant checks to a whole lot of deserving educators, as he did on the last leg of the tour.

"Created through the Manilow Music Project, a program of the Manilow Fund, the Manilow Music Teacher Award recognizes educators whose passion and dedication bring music to life for their students," a statement reads. "Ten outstanding high school music teachers in each tour market are nominated before the public votes to select the local recipient. Each winner receives a $10,000 grant, with $5,000 awarded directly to the teacher and $5,000 designated for new instruments and equipment for their school's music program. The winning educator is presented with the award during a private meet-and-greet with Manilow before the show and is also recognized onstage during the concert."

"Founded after Manilow learned that music programs across the country had been devastated by budget cuts, the Manilow Music Project has donated more than $10 million in instruments and scholarships to high school and college music students, teachers, and music programs nationwide."

"While Barry continues his extraordinary career with arena shows this summer, he has chosen to share the spotlight with those he believes truly deserve it: music educators," said Matt Parrish, President of the Manilow Fund.

Manilow with Philip Pandori and team in Albany, NY. Photo by Claude Sawyer

According to the statement, the upcoming recipients of the Manilow Music Teacher Awards are:

Charleston, SC (July 30): Ronnie Ward, Westview Middle School

Nashville, TN (August 1): C. Allen Kennedy, Hume-Fogg High School

Columbus, OH (August 2): Gretchen Wyder Zunic, Upper Arlington High School

Lexington, KY (August 4): Robert Bishop, Lafayette High School

Cincinnati, OH (August 5): Kyle Phillips, Princeton High School

Baltimore, MD (August 7): Christopher Gnagey, Catonsville High School

Norfolk, VA (August 8): Emily Wolcott, Oscar F. Smith High School

Greensboro, NC (August 10): Eddie Deaton, Walter Hines Page High School

Duluth, GA (August 11): Quentin Goins, Stephenson High School

Jacksonville, FL (August 13): Alexander Washington, Jacksonville Classical Academy

Manilow's arena tour resumes July 30 at North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, SC before continuing to Nashville, Columbus, Lexington, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Jacksonville, and more. For a complete list of tour dates, visit barrymanilow.com/the-last-concerts. 

The post BARRY MANILOW TO CELEBRATE LOCAL MUSIC EDUCATORS ACROSS THE U.S. first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.