Troy High's Brian Nutting Chosen as DTE Energy Foundation Educator of the Year

The Band Boosters are pleased to announce that Troy High's Director of Bands, Brian Nutting, has been chosen as the 2012 DTE Energy Foundation Educator of the Year by the University Musical Society (UMS).

The UMS recognized Nutting for his passionate commitment to arts education at Troy High School and to the transformative power of the arts in the community at large.

Nutting's award comes as no surprise to the Troy High Band community. His ensembles consistently garner superior and excellent ratings in competition. They have been invited to perform at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Lord Mayor of London’s New Year’s Day Parade, and the Michigan Music Conference.

This is the third time in five years that Nutting has been recognized as a model educator. In 2009, the Troy School District named him its “Teacher of the Year.” Last year, Nutting received top recognition from his peers in the Michigan State Band and Orchestra District (MSBOA) XVI. 

However, it was Nutting’s newest endeavor – the Bands’ – the UMS found particularly impressive.  The program sends students out into the community to share their musical talents in free concerts or, in some cases, . The program’s main purpose is to open the eyes of young adults to the importance of connecting with (and giving back to) one’s community through their performances. 

Fred Shell, DTE Energy vice president of corporate and government affairs and president of the DTE Energy Foundation, says it is important to recognize innovative teachers like Mr. Nutting.

“Helping students develop an appreciation for the performing arts is something that can enrich their lives forever,” Shell said. “Nutting has empowered students with the ability to transform lives and bring a community together through the performing arts.”

The UMS will also honor the Early College Alliance as the 2012 DTE Energy Foundation School of the Year at its 17^th Annual Ford Honors Gala (benefitting UMS Education and Community Engagement programs) on Sunday, April 22. The Ford Honors Gala will take place in the U-M Biomedical Research Building (109 Zina Pitcher Place) and follows a Hill Auditorium concert by Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell, leader and violin. DTE Energy Foundation generously sponsors this award through a financial commitment to UMS’s Youth Education Program.

Mr. Nutting and all of the Troy Band Ensembles will celebrate their many accomplishments when they host their Spring Concert at 7 p.m. on May 17. The Concert will take place in the Troy High School Auditorium; admission is free.

About UMS

One of the oldest performing arts presenters in the country, the University Musical Society is now in its 133rd season. With a program steeped in music, dance, and theater performed at the highest international standards of quality, UMS contributes to a vibrant cultural community by presenting approximately 60-75 performances and over 100 free educational and community activities each season.

The UMS Education and Community Engagement Program reaches up to 25,000 children and adults each year through a diverse mix of initiatives and educational events. These programs give many students their first opportunities to experience the live performing arts. With public school arts education programs declining at an extraordinary rate, UMS continues to take a leadership role in advocating for the support of transformative arts education experiences for our community.

About the Ford Honors Program

The annual Ford Honors Program celebrates an artist or ensemble that has made significant contributions to international music history while also having a deep connection to the history of the University Musical Society. This year, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Joshua Bell have been named recipients of the 2012 UMS Distinguished Artist Award.

A gala dinner will be held after the Academy's concert on Sunday, April 22 in the U-M Biomedical Research Building (109 Zina Pitcher Place) with proceeds benefiting UMS education programs. For information about the gala dinner, please call 734-647-8009. The Ford Honors Program recognizes the longtime generous support of UMS’s Education and Community Engagement Program by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.

All questions regarding the UMS should be directed to Truly Render, University Musical Society, 734-647-4020, trender@umich.edu, www.ums.org/news

The preceding information was submitted by Merri Lee Jones/Troy High School Band Boosters.