By Andy Klotz, APR—
MUNCIE, IN— Muncie Community Schools (MCS) has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) Award from The NAMM Foundation. The award recognizes individual schools and school districts all over the country for exemplary dedication to music education and ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning as part of a well-rounded education.
The BCME program has existed for 27 years, and MCS is one of just 16 districts in Indiana to receive this special recognition. MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Dr. Chuck Reynolds, a lifelong musician and former Muncie Southside High School Band Director, is thrilled for all the hard-working students and staff members who are now expanding on the district’s formidable music reputation, which he helped create.
“We have tremendous leaders and teachers in our music program at all of our schools, and this distinction reinforces what we already know here in Muncie – our program is really outstanding,” he said.
The Northside Middle School Band and Choir, led by Isaac Denniston, Chase Sprouse and Thom Crist, was recently given the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) All-Music Award for the second straight year. The Muncie Central High School Select Choir, led by Nate Jones, also received the All-Music Award for the first time ever. The Muncie Central Spirit of Muncie Band and Guard, led by John Clark and Dan Sager, is a perennial contender for the Indiana State Fair Band Day championship with several titles to its credit, and recently received a Group I Gold rating with Distinction at the ISSMA concert band contest.
Recipients of the 2026 BCME Awards were selected through a comprehensive application and review process that looked at district funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities and community support. All applications were independently reviewed and verified by WolfBrown, a leading research and evaluation firm specializing in education and the arts.
About Muncie Community Schools
Serving the local community since 1855, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) educates more than 5,000 students at six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school while also managing several other educational facilities. Through its unique partnership with Ball State University, MCS strives to maximize each student’s potential so he or she can be a positive, productive member of society.
About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is the charitable arm of the National Association of Music Merchants, the global trade association for the music products industry. The foundation works to remove systemic barriers that limit access to music-making and career pathways in the music industry. By investing in bold ideas and innovative solutions, we strive to build inclusive and thriving musical communities. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.
Andy Klotz, APR is Chief Communications Officer at Muncie Community Schools.
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