York Receives Its Grammy Thursday at the Final Symphony Orchestra Concert of the Year

There is a lot of buzz around town about York High School winning a Grammy Award. And, if you think it's just a take-off on the real Grammy Awards, or that the award is just window dressing, think again.

The Grammy York has won comes from the Grammy Foundation, which is part of the well-known Recording Academy's Grammy Awards. (Yes, THAT Grammy.) And, it's a pretty big deal.

Thursday night, at York High School's Symphony Orchestra concert, the school was presented with the coveted award that recognizes York as having one of the top three music programs in the country. Along with the award, York received a check for $5,500 to benefit its music program. Matt Hennessy, president of the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy and a producer, mix engineer and studio owner, did the honors.

The other two "Grammy Signature Schools" are Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas, and Nequa Valley High School in Naperville. Neuqua Valley took the top prize for 2013, as a National Grammy Signature School, and will receive $10,000.

Being named a Grammy Signature School is no small feat, considering the competition, which included "a number of specific 'arts magnet' or 'academy for the arts' high schools," York Orchestra Director Ray Ostwald said.
 
When York, under the leadership of the Performing and Visual Arts Division Chairman Bill Riddle, was named one of three Gold Finalists, Riddle and York senior Will McGing flew to Washington, D.C. for the Grammy on the Hill Award ceremony, where Jennifer Hudson was the guest of honor.

Entering the competition was quite a task for the music department. The application process was comprehensive and included submission of enrollment data, course offerings and extra-curricular offerings, as well as performance recordings, which were screened in a blind audition, Ostwald said.

York's music department stands out for a number of reasons, In just one example, the York Performing Arts Department last month hosted a visit from internationally renowned classical guitarist Vaclav Blaha from the Czech Republic, who performed for guitar, orchestra, band, choir and music production students. York was just one stop on Blaha’s tour, which included St. James Cathedral and the Julliard School of Music in New York, and he continues his 2013 tour schedule in Spain, France, Belarus and the Ukraine.