Cremona Music Educator Named Finalist for Prestigious National Teaching Award
An Alberta music teacher has received national recognition for his exceptional work in fostering musical talent among students. Alex Hutcheon, the band teacher at Cremona School in central Alberta, has been named one of five finalists for the 2026 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award.
From Humble Beginnings to Flourishing Program
When Hutcheon began teaching at the K-12 school in 2017, located approximately 60 kilometres northwest of Calgary, the high school band program had fewer than ten participants. Under his dedicated leadership, the program has experienced remarkable growth.
"I'm just really grateful that I teach in such an amazing school and a very supportive community, with very supportive administrators that value music education," Hutcheon expressed on Wednesday. "I'm grateful of our students and how much they enjoy making music and how much they enjoy band."
Today, the program boasts approximately 45 to 50 students in grades 9 through 12, with a total of 145 students participating across grades 5 to 12. The school now maintains four concert bands alongside a jazz ensemble, demonstrating the program's substantial expansion.
National Recognition and Potential Rewards
The MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented annually by the Canadian music education charity, represents one of the country's highest honors for music educators. As a finalist, Hutcheon has been invited to attend the Juno Awards ceremony and stands to win a $10,000 prize.
Hutcheon, who holds University of Lethbridge degrees in both music and education, emphasizes the multifaceted benefits of musical education for his students. "For me, and I'm probably not alone in our student body, this is how I express myself, is through music," said the teacher, originally trained as a tuba player but now primarily playing trumpet.
Building Resilience and Community Through Music
The educator highlights how learning an instrument teaches students valuable life skills beyond musical proficiency. "Learning an instrument is hard and takes a long time, and that teaches students resilience," he explained. "That's really good for the kids, where they're always evolving and always getting better, and you have to kind of fight through it and keep trying and not give up on it."
Band participation also naturally fosters collaboration and relationship-building among students. "Being part of the band, it's given our kids a sense of belonging and just instils some confidence in these kids," Hutcheon noted, emphasizing how leadership skills develop organically within the classroom environment.
Making Music Accessible to All Students
For the past three years, band has been a mandatory class for Grade 5 students at Cremona School, with the institution providing instruments at no cost to families. This approach ensures financial barriers don't prevent student participation.
"As music stores are not within close driving distance for Cremona and area residents, the school has its own fleet of instruments, to ensure music is as accessible as possible for families," Hutcheon explained.
This accessibility has yielded impressive retention rates. While band becomes optional in Grade 6, approximately 90 percent of students choose to continue with the music program. "What we've found is that a vast, vast majority of them find it beneficial to them and enjoy it, so they can continue with it," the teacher reported.
The school's instrument collection also allows for flexibility in student learning. If a student struggles with a particular instrument for three months, they have the opportunity to switch to a different one, ensuring each child can find their musical voice.
Hutcheon's nomination recognizes not only his individual dedication but also the thriving musical community he has helped cultivate in a rural Alberta setting, where music education has become an integral part of student development and school identity.
