Metea Valley musicians gain Grammy-winning status

The 900 students involved in Metea Valley High School's music program received a major honor Friday - a Grammy - that proved they've arrived at the same top tier musically as the other schools in the district.

The Aurora school in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 was named one of 13 Grammy Signature Gold Schools across the country in recognition of its commitment to music education. The award goes most directly to the students involved in 18 musical programs during the school day and 20 ensembles that meet after school, said Don Devany, fine arts chairman at Metea.

"The students are all hardworking, very dedicated. They're committed to excellence and they go above and beyond to perform at the highest possible level," Devany said. "Our job (as teachers), I think, is just to give them those opportunities and to guide them along the way."

The news means Metea, which opened in 2009, has joined Neuqua and Waubonsie Valley high schools in receiving recognition as a Grammy Signature Gold School. Neuqua has even been named the top music program in the country in 2005 and 2013.

"It's tangible evidence that what's happening kindergarten through 12th grade in District 204 is great, is high quality, is exceptional," Devany said.

Metea will receive a $3,500 grant when its award is presented this spring by officials from the Grammy Foundation, and Devany said the school will use the money to bring in special guest instructors who can challenge and inspire young musicians.

Metea was the only Illinois school this year to win Signature Gold status. But both Metea and Waubonsie were among the 119 schools nationwide that were selected as semifinalists and invited to submit recordings of concerts, sample programs and repertoire lists.

Devany said he tried to showcase in application materials the school's six levels of traditional bands, choirs and orchestras along with its more unusual ensembles such as a steel drum band, a jazz ensemble and vocal a cappella groups.

Music is a part of the culture recognized by the district's students, teachers, parents and community members, which leads to the high standards that helped Metea become a Grammy-winning school seven years after opening.

"It's valued as something that's essential for our students and not just something that's nice," Devany said.