The Provo City School District Elementary Music Program has been honored with the Sorenson Legacy Award for Excellence in Arts Education. Recognized in the Exemplary Arts Program category, the award highlights the district's commitment to providing high-quality music instruction across its elementary schools.
Kayleen Nelson, the PCSD BTS Arts and Fine Arts Curriculum Specialist who nominated the program, stated that the selection committee was deeply impressed by the effort. She noted that the collaborative work required to build such an outstanding arts program deserves recognition at a high level.
The district's music program is structured so that every elementary school has a full-time, certified music teacher. Superintendent Wendy Dau noted in a support letter that all K-6 students receive standards-based music instruction one to two times per week from licensed educators. She described the access to music education in Provo as universal, with the arts embedded into the regular school day for every child.
This educational framework is built upon the Kodály method, utilizing a common curriculum known as Dr. Jerry Jaccard’s Signs and Seasons, Rhymes and Reasons. This curriculum aligns with Utah Standards for K-6 Music and covers elements such as in-tune singing, rhythmic development, and melodic learning. To maintain instructional quality, music teachers participate in professional learning communities twice a month to discuss pedagogy and assessments.
The program's roots trace back approximately 30 years to BYU students who volunteered to teach music. Dr. Patti Harrington, a former PCSD superintendent, described the program as a long-standing leader in Kodály instruction that is now embraced by educators throughout the district.
The impact of the program extends to secondary education and community engagement. Teachers at Shoreline Middle School and Centennial Middle School have noted that students arrive in their programs with mastered skills in pitch recognition, rhythm, and musical terminology due to their elementary preparation.
A significant highlight of the district's music culture is the PCSD Elementary Choir Festival. Since its inception in 2000, the festival has grown to include between 675 and 700 singers from every elementary school. Parent Kirby Cook described the experience of hearing a full auditorium of children harmonizing as an uplifting event.
Community support for these programs remains high. PCSD School Board President Jennifer Partridge reported that during budget reviews, the district received more than double the amount of emails in support of music programs compared to any other topic.
The award recognizes a system designed to provide equitable access to all 7,000 elementary students in Provo. As noted by Lakeview Principal Dr. Jamie Davis-Leite, the opportunity for music training is available to every student regardless of privilege or wealth, creating a foundational pathway for musical development through the K-12 years.
