MEDIA RELEASE
28 November 2018
Mt. Gambier Local Wins 2018 ARIA Music Teacher of the Year Award!
Scott Maxwell from Grant High School in Mount Gambier is the winner of the 2018 ARIA Music Teacher of the Year. The win was announced at the star-studded ARIA Awards, held at The Star in Sydney. The ARIA Music Teacher of the Year Award is run in partnership with leading arts education organisation, The Song Room and sponsored by Telstra.
It’s been a wild ride for Scott, who was selected from hundreds of submissions. His inclusion as an official ARIA Nominee was celebrated with a surprise visit by Guy Sebastian, who made the trip to Grant High School in October and sang his hit song Battle Scars with students from the music program. Since then, four nominees from across Australia have been put to a public vote, with tens of thousands from around the country showing their support for their favourite music educator.
‘Maxi’ as he is affectionately known, has transformed the music program at Grant High since he took over in 2009. There are now double the amount of music programs offered at the school, and triple the number of students enrolled in the music program. Scott’s success is attributed to his aspiration to make as many music genres accessible as possible, to adapting his teaching to suit the needs of his students, and to placing an emphasis on creating opportunities for public performances.
His approach has seen the cohort at Grant High School thrive. What started as small live shows in the school canteen at lunch time, has quickly grown to full community festivals for students to perform under Scott’s guidance. Scott has also scored entire musicals to suit the student’s voices and instrumental skills. The musicals were premiered with excellent critical reviews at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre in Mt. Gambier.
School Principal, Fleur Roachock says Scott is dedicated to connecting with students on the fringe of school life and finding them a place. His programs have been integral to improving the mental health of many students who “find an outlet and improved self-esteem, through the discovery of their own talent and the opportunity to show it off.”
The 2018 ARIA Music Teacher of the Year Award nominees included Becky Hall from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Deb Skelton from Caladenia Primary School in Perth and Dean Harawira from Nerang State High in Nerang on the Gold Coast. All were selected for the exceptional work they do to transform the educational outlook of Australian kids who may not receive the opportunities that many other children enjoy.
“Scott is an exceptional music educator,” says The Song Room’s CEO, Simon Gipson. “He has compellingly demonstrated what can be achieved by a strong music program in positively influencing school culture, building connections between young people and school life, and lifting learning outcomes.”
The benefits of music education have been consistently proven by decades of research and they are experienced every day by Australian teachers and students who actively engage and participate in music as a fundamental part of school life. Research into The Song Room’s programs in particular provides evidence that children involved in their program achieve better grades, attend school more often, improve their self- esteem and confidence, and experience less stress, depression, loneliness and anger. Despite the facts, 63% of Australian schools do not have a specialist music teacher.
This is the second year that the Music Teacher of the Year Award has been part of the ARIA Awards, and the second year that it has been taken out by a South Australian. The inaugural winner, Renee McCarthy from Woodcroft College, stole the hearts of the music industry as she accepted the award live at the 2017 ARIA Awards.
About The Song Room The Song Room levels the learning playing field for children experiencing disadvantage through an impactful, sustainable and scalable approach to arts learning. The Song Room works in partnership with schools and communities across Australia to improve student outcomes and school engagement. About ARIA The ARIAs is the flagship event on the Australian music calendar – a celebration of all that is great in local music. The very first ARIA Awards were held in 1987 and hosted by Sir Elton John and winners included INXS, Crowded House and John Farnham. Since that time the ARIA Awards have developed into Australia’s pinnacle music Awards ceremony, forging careers and playing host to countless memorable moments and performances. For more information visit www.aria.com.au.
F For Further Information Contact: Alice Gerlach, Director of Market Development at The Song Room
M: 0408 992 942 E: [email protected] For more information visit www.ariamusicteacheraward.com.au