Erik Lynch, the band director and music educator at Verona High School, is among a total of 222 music teachers from 208 cities across 41 states who have been picked as quarterfinalists for the second annual Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation. In total, more than 7,000 nominations were submitted from across 50 states.
The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college, public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.
Under Lynch’s direction, the Verona Marching Band and Verona Concert Band have pushed the boundaries of musical excellence as the only all-encompassing instrumental group to compete with schools that are up to five times as large as Verona High School.
Awards held by the VHS Concert Band are numerous and they include:
- 2012: Gold Rating State Concert Band Festival, Selected to New Jersey State Gala Concert, Selected to Rutgers Mid-Atlantic Wind Band Festival, First Non-Professional Group Selected to Wednesday at Noon Concert Series at Cathedral Basilica, Newark NJ
- 2013: Selected to New Jersey State Gala Concert fourth time in a row
Marching Band honors include:
- 2013: Second Place in Group IV Open and winning the award for Best Percussion section at the New Jersey State Championships at Rutgers University; second place at our at Wayne Hills High School show.
For more information on The Verona High School Concert and Marching Band, see www.veronamusic.org. The video below was produced to support Lynch’s nomination.
For more information on the Music Educator Award:
http://www.grammy.com/news/quarterfinalists-announced-for-music-educator-award
Mr. Lynch is the epitome of all that an educator should be! He has managed to keep the kids enthusiasm and love and passion for music front and center. The way he reaches our kids is just incredible and to be witness to all the successes and how much these band kids love being a part of such a fantastic music program surely is displayed anywhere you go with this band. For all those who have been blessed to have called Mr. Lynch their teacher and mentor will never forget him. He has touched many lives and there is no question that the lessons learned are ones that will last our children a lifetime. Good luck Mr. Lynch this nomination is well deserved and the Salierno Family is cheering for you.
Lynch is the best. Well Deserved! Good Luck Mr. Lynch!