Campus International K-8 Receives National Recognition for Championing Music Education

Cleveland, Ohio – May 23, 2026 – CMSD Campus International K-8 has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) Award from The NAMM Foundation for their outstanding support and commitment to music education. Now in its 27th year, the program continues to spotlight and celebrate school districts and individual schools across the United States for their exemplary dedication to music education and their ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning as part of a well-rounded education.

The award reaches K-12 communities nationwide, offering both recognition and momentum to strengthen and expand music education programs. In 2026, more than 1,000 school districts and schools—including public, private, charter and parochial institutions—have been recognized for outstanding achievement in providing access to high-quality music education.

Recipients of the 2026 BCME Awards were selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates key indicators, including funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities and community support. To uphold the program’s rigor and credibility, all applications were independently reviewed and verified by WolfBrown, a leading research and evaluation firm specializing in education and the arts.

CMSD Campus International School K-8

Campus International School is a K–8 International Baccalaureate school in the heart of Cleveland with a strong commitment to academics, the arts, and community.  Under the dedicated leadership of Julie Beers, Kameron Terrell, Kate Grzelak, and Sheila O'Rourke, the IB curriculum sets a high bar for arts engagement, and our music program works hard to make the most of the opportunities.

From the start of the Primary Years Programme, students build a strong musical foundation. In grades K–2, they explore singing, Orff instruments, and movement. Third graders receive recorders and participate in after-school rehearsals for a musical production. In 4th grade, students choose band or orchestra during the school day, and choir also becomes an opportunity.

As students move into the Middle Years Programme, their musical opportunities grow. Experienced musicians can join select ensembles like jazz band, chamber winds, and chamber orchestra. Students also perform beyond school through the Winter All-City Arts Program and the spring Rock Your World event at Public Auditorium each May.

Our students' musical lives extend well beyond the school building, too. Many scholars participate in the after-school Crescendo Program at Cleveland School of the Arts, a remarkable collaboration with the Cleveland Orchestra. Others explore their creativity through the Tri-C Creative Arts Program, offered during the school year on Saturdays and over the summer in the form of a summer camp, giving students more opportunities to perform, create, and study music throughout the year.