Provo City School District Elementary Music Program Receives State Sorenson Legacy Award The Provo City School District (PCSD) elementary music program has been honored with the Sorenson Legacy Award for Excellence in Arts Education in the Exemplary Arts Program category. This statewide recognition celebrates outstanding arts education initiatives across Utah schools. Superintendent Wendy Dau highlighted the program’s foundation, stating that every K–6 student receives standards-based, developmentally appropriate music instruction one to two times per week from licensed, endorsed educators. She emphasized that arts access in Provo is universal and embedded in the regular school day for every child. Board President Jennifer Partridge noted strong community support, sharing that the district received more than double the emails in favor of its music programs compared to any other topic. Lakeview Principal Jamie Davis-Leite cited the music program as a key reason she chose to raise her children in Provo. International recognition came from Dr. Zsuzsanna Mindszenty, a Kodály educator from Hungary, who expressed pride in the Provo district’s implementation of the world-famous Kodály music education system in its schools. Personal testimonies from students and alumni underscored the program’s broader impact. One student shared that music classes provided the motivation to maintain going, while alumna Isabella Leite reflected that elementary school choir gave her a space to find her voice and confidence. These accounts describe a program that fosters musicianship alongside belonging, discipline, confidence, and joy. The award aligns with a broader trend of arts excellence in PCSD. Recent Sorenson Legacy Award honorees connected to the district include Rachel Leber in 2024 and Kayla Spurlock in 2025, alongside earlier recipients such as Megan Christensen, ARTcetera, Julianna Gylseth, Logan McKinney, and Edgemont Elementary.
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