Westminster's Drake Named Carroll County Music Educator of the Year

Brian Drake, an instrumental music teacher and band director at Westminster High School, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Carroll County Music Educator Award, which is sponsored by the Music Advocates of Carroll County (MACC). The award will be presented during the Westminster High School Marching Band Show on Saturday, Oct. 13 at approximately 6:15 p.m.

The Music Educator of the Year Award was designed to highlight and recognize outstanding Carroll County music educators who demonstrate a record of outstanding teaching effectiveness both within and outside the classroom and have the ability to inspire, promote, and sustain the intellectual, musical, and creative development of students. Other criteria for the award include a pedagogical approach that is innovative, musically rigorous, creative, and engaging, as well as involvement in the school community and the greater Carroll County community.

All full-time music teachers in Carroll County Public Schools were eligible to be nominated for the award. A team of adjudicators who are active in the Carroll County arts community reviewed all of the nomination packets and selected Drake as this year’s winner.

Drake has been an instrumental music director at Westminster High School for more than ten years. During this time, the school has been recognized many times for its exceptional ensembles, both outside on the marching field and inside on the concert stage. In addition, Drake is an active composer and music arranger and a mentor to many young people – whether they are pursuing music as a career or entering an entirely different field.

Parent Angelina KlineBurgess, who nominated Drake for the award, said, “Mr. Drake stands out as dedicated, thorough, and patient, while at the same time insisting on rigor and asking for the same dedication from his students that he gives to them.” 

MACC is a grassroots advocacy organization with members throughout Carroll County who believe in the value of music education. The mission of the organization is to support students and teachers by increasing awareness of the value of music education and to promote school-based and countywide policies that support music for all.