Dubbed the “Academy Awards for teachers,” the National Education Association Foundation’s annual Salute to Excellence in Education gala has honored the nation’s top public school educators and supporters for the past 14 years. This year marked the organization's 40th anniversary, and to celebrate the evening’s theme, a “Symphony of Success,” more than 70 high-school musicians performed on the National Building Museum’s stage.
“What better way to celebrate the success of our public schools than by showcasing amazing talent from public schools across the country?” said the evening’s executive producer, Annie Groeber of Ihrig Productions.
The gala’s decor also reflected the musical theme, featuring projected images of music notes on a floor-to-ceiling curtain rigged to divide the Building Museum’s massive courtyard in half. Music note decorations were also rigged from the ceiling to hang near the stage. In a budget-conscious move, cupcake towers and cookies shaped like musical notes topped the tables instead of floral arrangements. Since the museum’s many columns could obstruct sight lines, three flat-screen TVs ensured that all 860 guests had a view of the action.
In addition to performances by the Counterpoints show choir from Indianapolis, public school graduate and Yale Institute of Sacred Music scholar Cory Hunter, and the Great Bridge High School Chamber Orchestra from Chesapeake, Virginia, the evening also featured performers from Sesame Street, with Bob McGrath from the show's original cast as M.C. The N.E.A. Foundation presented an Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education to Sesame Workshop, which is also celebrating a 40th anniversary this year.
The audience even got in on the musical spirit—lifesize Cookie Monster and Elmo characters joined McGrath onstage to lead a spirited rendition of the Sesame Street classic “Sing,” with guests linking arms and singing along.
