MEXICO – Cheers and well wishes were all around in the Mexico Middle School band room as one music educator was surprised with a monthly Music Educator Award from WCNY Classic FM.
Several station members were on hand to surprise Kevin Upcraft, a band director, instructor and leader at the district for 16 years, with the January award, given to local music educators who are dedicated to sustaining the performing arts and who have had a positive influence on their students.
WCNY’s team came into the classroom at the end of an Upcraft class to present the plaque.
“We are so happy for Kevin,” said MACS Superintendent Dr. Donna Runner. “When reading about the qualifications and parameters for the award, it was clear Kevin was a perfect nominee. We are grateful to WCNY for honoring him and are appreciative for everything Kevin does for his students and the music program.
Upcraft, the seventh and eighth grade band director and Fine Arts Coordinator at MACS, expressed his thanks to WCNY for this special surprise.
“This award is a great honor, but I would not be as successful as I am without the great department of music and art teachers that I work with here at MACS,” said Upcraft. “It takes the whole team, and they all put in tons of hours to ensure our students are growing and, importantly, also having fun.”
As part of the award, Upcraft will bring a band group to WCNY studios in early February for a recording to be played on WCNY, which is 91.3-FM in the Syracuse area and 90.9-FM in the Watertown area.
In his current roles with MACS, Upcraft works with the grades 7/8 bands, middle school jazz ensemble, middle school marching band and pit orchestra for the high school musical. During the summer, he runs the grades 7-12 marching band and summer jazz program for students in grades eight through 12. Upcraft also helms the district’s varsity boys swimming and diving and is the assistant coach for the girls program.
A 1999 graduate of MACS, Upcraft was a captain of the varsity swim team and a member of the varsity golf and football teams. In addition to the band and music programs, Upcraft was an active member of the international and French clubs, and traveled to France, Ireland and England in high school.
Upcraft thanked his family, wife Corinne and sons Jacob and Matthew, for their loving support and being the “foundation that keeps (him) put together.”
WCNY Classic FM staff members surprise Mexico Middle School band instructor Kevin Upcraft, at left, with their monthly award for music education for January
missing or outdated ad config