Henry Miller, a music teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School, has again been recognized with the CMA Music Teacher of Excellence award. This marks the second time Miller has received the national honor, having previously been named in 2019. He was also a finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award. This year, Miller is one of three California teachers to receive the CMA award.
The Country Music Association (CMA) Foundation annually honors 30 teachers across the nation who "use the power of music to transform lives." Miller plans to use the $5,000 monetary award accompanying the recognition to enhance music education at Sierra Vista Middle School and purchase new musical scores for students.
Miller chose to begin his 36-year teaching career in Irvine due to the city's emphasis on arts education. As director of instrumental music at Sierra Vista, he oversees three orchestras, three concert bands, and a jazz band. Each ensemble stages three performances annually, featuring three to five songs per performance. Miller prioritizes discovering new musical literature to challenge both himself and his students.
Ensuring all students have equitable access to music, including high-quality instruments, is a core aspect of Miller's approach. He states he "never turn[s] down a student who wants to play." This dedication is supported by institutional funding, including the Irvine Company’s Excellence in Education and Enrichment Fund, which has provided nearly $50 million over the past two decades specifically for arts and music education. Miller also credits the Irvine Unified School District, his colleagues, and school administrators for their philosophy of openness to new ideas.
The Irvine Public Schools Foundation further supports a variety of music-related projects, such as students performing for special needs children and at senior centers. For Miller, success in music is not measured by student accolades like attendance at Juilliard, but by the persistence of the average student. He asserts that "Music is a place that welcomes everybody," emphasizing effort over inherent talent, and stating that the only way to fail in music is to stop playing.
Miller's award follows recent recognition for several other Irvine teachers in music and theater. Erica Turrell, a music teacher at Plaza Vista, was a CMA finalist. Katherine Findlay, a music teacher serving Meadow Park, Woodbury, and Westpark elementary schools, was a semifinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award. Becca Voight of Northwood Elementary received the Theatre Elementary Award from OC Music and Arts Administrators (OCMAA), and Amanda Mailman of Eastwood Elementary won the Juliana McGrath Elementary Classroom Award from OCMAA.
