Tucker Wetmore, Keith Urban and More Honor Teachers at CMA Foundation’s 10th Annual Music Teachers of Excellence Ceremony

The CMA Foundation celebrated a decade of honoring the teachers who help shape the next generation of music makers during the 10th Annual Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony Wednesday night (Oct. 7) at The Pinnacle in Nashville.

The milestone event brought together music educators, artists and industry leaders for an evening centered around the powerful impact of music education and the teachers who have dedicated their lives to giving students the opportunity to find their own voices through music.

CMA Foundation Celebrates 10 Years of Music Teachers of Excellence

Now in its 10th year, Music Teachers of Excellence is the CMA Foundation’s flagship program, recognizing 30 exceptional music teachers from across the country for their dedication to providing high-quality music education to students and communities.

Ahead of the program, which included performances by Tucker Wetmore, Marcus King, Zac Brown, and more, several country artists opened up about the music teachers who impacted their own lives and careers, offering a personal reminder of just how lasting a teacher’s influence can be.

Wetmore told us it was a “huge honor” to take the stage in celebration of music educators. While he never had formal lessons on any instruments, he recalled a music teacher who introduced him to the piano and helped harbor his love of music.

“I think back when I first started playing instruments and singing and writing songs, and back when I was nine or 10 years old, I sat down in front of the piano one day and it changed my life,” he shared. “And I feel like music education is super important for the kids that want to pursue it. And I think music is just important for kids to have an avenue to express their feelings and their emotions. And when you’re that young, you don’t really know how to. And I think music is a good avenue for expression of whatever they got going on.”

For Wetmore, that early introduction to music came through his school’s band program and a teacher named Dale Groff, who showed him a few chords on the piano and encouraged him to pick up the trumpet.

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“I was in band and I was a band kid. And the music teacher at the school, his name is Dale Groff, and he taught me a couple chords and handed me a trumpet one day and told me to go in the back room because I was halfway through the year. I was like, ‘I want to play trumpet.’ And he goes, ‘Well, I don’t have any time to teach you, so go in the back room and learn the trumpet.’ But yeah, his name was Dale Groff. He taught me a couple chords on the piano and I kind of ran from there…It kind of changed my life in a lot of ways.”

Now, all these years later, Wetmore found himself preparing to perform a Jerry Lee Lewis song during the ceremony, making the night feel even more meaningful.

“I’m playing a Jerry Lee Lewis song tonight, which I’m really excited about when I was talking about Dale Groff and those chords and a couple songs that he showed me how to play on the piano. Jerry Lee Lewis was one of those songs, one of those people that he taught me. And it’s going to be a cool kind of full circle moment for me.”

Wetmore’s story was one of many shared with us backstage, as artists reflected on the teachers who helped shape their musical journeys and encouraged them to pursue their passions.

Frank Ray Says Music Teachers Help Lay the Foundation for Future Careers

For Frank Ray, that influence came from his choir director, Mr. Martin. He believes the impact of music teachers reaches far beyond the classroom, serving as the foundation for countless careers in the industry.

“I don’t think there’s a musician or an artist, producer, or anybody in this industry that wouldn’t be here without the direct inspiration and mentorship of the teachers that inspired them. So I think that’s where it starts. I know that’s specifically for me and my choir director, Mr. Martin. So I think it’s really important that we keep this program alive, we keep this portion of the arts funded, and I will always be a supporter of that.”

Mae Estes Celebrates the “Unsung Heroes”

Mae Estes has attended Music Teachers of Excellence several times in the past and continues to show up to celebrate the educators who played such an important role in helping artists find their confidence.

“This is really special because it’s the unsung heroes finally getting a little bit of credit they deserve. Man, the teachers in my life truly instilled so much encouragement and confidence and belief in myself that have me here today chasing this crazy dream in Music City. So it’s very important and I’m excited to celebrate them.”

John Morgan Credits His Teachers With Helping Him Develop His Craft

For John Morgan, a few teachers helped him turn his early passion for music into a craft he could continue developing.

“For me, music was something I was passionate about first. And I think I had a few, two specifically, good teachers early on that helped me channel how to just get better at my craft. And that was guitar at the time, but I started on piano and learned a few others from both teachers and just very good at reading music and also playing by ear. And I think there’s very important to be able to do both.”

Greylan James Remembers the Teacher Who Shared His Love of Country Music

Greylan James also remembered a teacher who helped fuel his love for guitar while introducing him to some of the country music legends who would eventually influence his own artistry.

“I had a music teacher named Chris Bean that he was the first one that I met that had a telecaster and he was one of those people that I grew up and I was like, “Man, I would love to be somebody like Chris Bean and play guitar like him.” And again, I would sit there and talk about Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson with them. He was the only person again that was at school that knew the people that I was listening to and I wanted to grow up to be like. So shout out Chris Bean!”

Cyndi Thompson Shares How a Teacher Helped Her Find Her Voice

For Cyndi Thompson, a music teacher saw something in her at a time when she needed it most. After being bullied in middle school, Thompson joined her school’s marching band hoping to find a place where she could feel like she belonged. She ultimately found that place in choir, after a teacher recognized her voice and encouraged her to pursue singing.

“I believe that music education is extremely essential to a young person’s life, especially a creative person. And I am one of those people. I was in middle school, I was bullied severely. And when I changed schools, I decided to get into the marching band and just so I could disappear into something, but be a part of something musical. And I was a terrible clarinet player. And the choir teacher actually came in one day to band and asked if I was in there. Cyndi Thompson was in class and I said, ‘I’m right here.’ And she said, ‘Come with me.’ She said, ‘I heard that you could sing.’ And I said, ‘I don’t know if I can sing.’ And so she took me into the choir class and had me sing all of these amazing scales and said, ‘I don’t care what you do with your clarinet. This is going to be your class and you’re going to sit right over there. You’re in choir now.’ And so she was the first teacher to see in me music and even told my parents, ‘I believe she’s a star and I’m going to help her find her place in music.’ And so for me, music education is amazing and essential and it changed my life.”

Alexandra Kay Reflects on Finding a Sense of Home Through Music Education

Alexandra Kay also applauded the CMA Foundation for supporting music education in schools, reflecting on the personal impact her own music classes had on her growing up.

“It’s so important to support music education in schools because, well, just personally speaking, it was my one true outlet of expression when I really had so many feelings growing up as a preteen and teenager. All I really knew is whenever I walked into that chorus class is what we called it, I felt at home.”

Myles Morgan Remembers the Teacher Who Always Supported Him

For Myles Morgan, the person who made a lasting impact on his life wasn’t specifically a music teacher, but a third grade teacher who supported him and continues to stay connected to him today.

“Ms. Hutchinson was always one of my favorite teachers. She’s amazing. She’s a great human and she was always really supportive of everything I did and she still stays in touch with me today.”

Keith Urban Honors the Teacher Who Believed in Him

Later in the evening, Keith Urban took the stage to share the story of Mrs. Grimmer, the music teacher who made a lasting impact on his life while he was growing up in Australia.

Urban recalled being a student who struggled with reading music and theory but found his confidence through playing, creating and writing music. Rather than allowing those challenges to define him or his classmates, Mrs. Grimmer found a way to meet them where they were.

“She was my music teacher in the eighth, ninth, and 10th grade in the school I went to in Australia,” Urban shared. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without her belief in me.”

He went on to explain how Mrs. Grimmer created an original musical that allowed students to showcase their strengths across different genres, giving them an opportunity to succeed in a way that traditional music curriculum did not always allow.

“She looked ahead to the end of the year and realized these guys are going to fail music if we don’t do something about this,” he recalled. “So she went to the school board and said, ‘Can I write a musical?’”

Although Urban ultimately failed the class because the performance was not included in the school’s official curriculum, he said the experience stayed with him and shaped the way he views music education.

“The spirit of what Mrs. Grimmer was doing, what she believed in, I know you guys have that same spirit in you,” Urban told the teachers in attendance. “And I thank you so much for your passion, your dedication, and for kind of just fighting the good fight and answering the calling.”

Joe Galante Receives Inaugural CMA Foundation Music Education Impact Award

One of the evening’s biggest moments came when the CMA Foundation presented music industry executive and Country Music Hall of Fame member Joe Galante with the inaugural CMA Foundation Music Education Impact Award.

The new honor recognizes an individual whose leadership, service and resources have created meaningful, lasting opportunities through music education. Galante was recognized for his longtime commitment to the CMA Foundation and his efforts to expand access to music education for students across the country.

Galante played an instrumental role in the inception and early development of the CMA Foundation and became a founding member of its Board of Directors when the Foundation was formally established in 2011. He has served on the Board for 15 years, including five terms as Chairman, helping guide the organization as its focus evolved from providing critical resources to classrooms to investing in educators, students and sustainable music education programs.

Among his many contributions, Galante was particularly instrumental in the CMA Foundation’s longstanding partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools, which has resulted in a $12.5 million investment in music education across the district. He also played a key role in the creation of the Music Teachers of Excellence program.

2026 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence

Meet the 30 music educators making a lasting impact on the next generation, recognized as 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