CLEVELAND – Barry Manilow announced today he will honor an outstanding music teacher in Cleveland on June 5 at the Rocket Arena during his highly anticipated Spring/Summer Last Concert Arena Tour. Local high school students in each city will submit the names of their favorite music teachers and then vote to select the winner. The winning teacher receives $5000 in new band instruments for their high school band, and an additional $5000 will be presented directly to the teacher. 

Voting is now open to everyone and will end on April 3rd. The voting website can be found HERE, and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter.

“While Barry continues his extraordinary career with 14 shows this spring and 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. 

“It is wonderful to partner with our concert venues to identify schools and music teachers in their neighborhoods that deserve this small token of my gratitude,” said Manilow. “Many school music programs have either been terminated, or their funds have been severely depleted. I always want to do my part through The Manilow Music Project to keep music in schools.”

Manilow launched the Manilow Music Project in response to a friend’s request for an old used saxophone for his high school daughter. Manilow was surprised to discover that most public schools had suffered considerable budget cuts in their school music programs and that high school music teachers were taking part-time jobs just to raise the money to buy new drumsticks or a used trumpet so kids could play in the band. With no staff and all volunteers from the community and Manilow’s management company, The Manilow Music Project has gifted over $10 million in instruments and scholarships to primarily high school music students throughout the United States over the past 20 years and recognized hundreds of teachers nationwide. 

For more details on The Manilow Music Project, please visit www.manilowmusicproject.org