Haley submitted the following essay with her application for the June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship. It appears here with minor editing and the addition of a headline.
Music Is for Everyone by Haley Fleischman
June M. Hinckley Music Education Scholarship Recipient
C
Choosing to pursue a future in music came naturally for
that learning music in his class was to be taken seriously
born; but ultimately deciding to become a music educa-
Mrs. Katie Hone Wiltgen, was able to strike that import-
me, as I have been drawn to music since the day I was tor was the result of the cumulative influence of my own exceptional music educators from my first week of kindergarten through my senior year of high school.
I remember my first week of elementary school like it
was yesterday. The building seemed so large, and I was
while still being fun. My youth bel canto choir director, ant balance between recognizing hard work and talent,
while making music accessible to all students interest-
ed in singing. I couldn’t help but want to practice and impress her.
My good fortune with amazing music teachers didn’t
anxious and afraid that nothing was going to make me
end there. It has continued through high school, where,
music classroom. I noticed all the instruments and music
under the incredible direction of Mr. Bradley Franks and
like kindergarten ... until I entered Mrs. Becky Berry’s
note stickers on the walls and instantly felt calm. Mrs. Berry welcomed us with her warm smile and bright sing-
song voice, and in that moment, I realized that kindergarten wouldn’t be so bad after all. I admired the way teach-
ing music seemed to make her shine from the inside out. I found myself regularly imitating her at home, teaching my music class of stuffed animals.
I was fortunate to have two equally incredible music
educators during middle school. My band director, Mr.
Nick Lenio, inspired me to conquer my young stage fright with his enthusiasm for performing in the community. I admired his natural way of conveying to his students
8 F l o r i d a
Music Director
for the last four years, I have had the privilege of singing
Mrs. Tina Gill. Mr. Franks is the kind of director who notices when you have put in the effort to improve your
singing skills. Nothing is more motivating than having an accomplished teacher like him acknowledge your hard
work. Mrs. Gill, who is my private vocal coach in addition
to my in-school director, has been one of my greatest musical inspirations. With a heart as big as her talent, she
takes pride in each of her student’s accomplishments and
has shown me by example just how rewarding teaching music to younger generations can be.
Music educators by nature are great people, and as
a student, I certainly have had the luck of the draw.
