Giving Students The Gift Of Music

Posted by Staff in On The Air on Feb 22nd, 2010 | no responses

The motion picture, Mr. Holland’s Opus starring Richard Dreyfuss, told the story of a school teacher who dedicated his life to teaching an appreciation of music to generations of students. So inspired was the film’s composer, Michael Kamen, that in 1996 he founded the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. The organization has since been a big benefactor for music education programs around the country.

Vince Womack is a modern-day Mr. Holland. He’s the band director and music teacher at the James A. Foshay Learning Center in the heart of Los Angeles. He was recently honored with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation Award — one of only five teachers so honored across the nation.

Tony Cox talks with Womack and Felice Mancini — daughter of legendary composer Henry Mancini and executive director of the foundation.