The Toledo Symphony (TSO) announced the recipient of its annual Outstanding Music Educator Award: Megan Porter, music teacher at Oregon City Schools.  

“The Toledo Symphony is built on the hard work of music instructors around the world,” says Rachel Schultz, Director of Education & Community Engagement for the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts. “Each of our symphony musicians has a story about an influential music teacher that helped foster their love of music; if not for the teachers who inspired the musicians, and instilled the love of arts into our patrons, we would not be here today.” 

This is the third consecutive year the TSO has honored current, full-time, K-12 music educators who teach music in public and private schools in the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan region. 

“The work that is being done in the classrooms is laying the foundation for the future of the arts in Toledo and beyond,” continues Schultz. “It is clear from reading about our four finalists that we have a very dedicated group of music educators who are determined to keep the arts thriving for generations to come" 

Megan Porter holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Music Education from Bowling Green State University.  She has been working at Starr Elementary, a part of Oregon City Schools, since 2013. 

“I am honored to have been selected as the Toledo Symphony Orchestra’s Outstanding Music Educator of the Year” says Porter. “I was initially shocked to learn that I had been nominated and selected as a finalist for such an incredible award. Throughout the voting process, it was extremely humbling to read such kind words from members of my community. Oregon City Schools have embraced music education and continue to grow in the arts. I’m lucky to work in such a supportive district!” 

Megan Porter’s classes will receive complimentary tickets to a 2022/2023 Toledo Symphony Young People’s Concert or Masterworks concert. They will also receive a complimentary ensemble presentation for their classroom or school during the 2022/2023 academic year. 

“It excites me to think that my students will also benefit from this award,” continues Porter. “For them, getting to experience live orchestral music will be a welcomed opportunity. I’d also like to take a moment to acknowledge the other finalists. When reading about each of them, I felt that I was in very good company. Their students are fortunate to learn from such fine educators. Thank you to the Toledo Symphony Orchestra for creating this opportunity to highlight music education. I’m grateful to have received this honor!” 

Outstanding Music Educator Award Nominees included Diana Anderson (Toledo School for the Arts), Tom Sieberg (Maumee Valley Country Day School), and Tai Knoll, (Waterville Primary School). 

“We extend our congratulations to the nominees from across the region as well,” says Schultz. “This public nomination process allowed students, parents, colleagues, school administrators, and community members to nominate deserving music teachers who make a difference in their communities. We were humbled by the incredible stories that were shared.” 

For more information about Toledo Symphony’s Outstanding Music Educator Award or educational outreach opportunities for schools, please contact Rachel Schultz at rschultz@artstoledo.com or visit toledosymphony.com/education. 

ABOUT MEGAN PORTER 

Megan Porter has been teaching music in public education since 2009.  She is a proud graduate of Bowling Green State University where she received her Bachelor of Music Education in 2009 and Master of Music Education in 2013.  After graduation, she worked as an adjunct instructor at BGSU teaching future elementary educators. She is currently the music educator at Starr Elementary School in Oregon, OH, a position she has held since 2013.   

In Oregon City Schools, Megan has helped create, build, and establish a solid foundation for the district’s youngest musicians. Megan educates her students with engaging and eclectic general music classes, voice lessons, and choral opportunities. Her lessons incorporate singing, playing instruments and moving to music. Furthermore, she infuses her teaching with real world applications of composers, compositions and orchestral instrumentation. Her students have had opportunities to perform at Toledo MudHens games, Toledo Walleye games, local nursing homes, and grade level performances. Additionally, Megan has consistently had students audition and be selected to perform in the Ohio Music Education Association’s All-State Children’s Chorus.   

Professionally, Megan has been acknowledged as being an outstanding educator in her field by providing exemplary leadership, service and commitment to excellence in music education. In 2016, she was selected as the Ohio Music Education Association’s Outstanding Young Music Educator.  In 2018, Megan was selected as the Keller Family Teacher of the Quarter. In 2021, Megan received both an IMPACT and Founder’s grant through the Oregon Schools Foundation. These funds were used to purchase music and instruments to enhance the students’ musical education experience. At home, Megan loves to spend time with her husband Scott, daughter Phoebe, and rescue dog Piper. They love to go to the zoo, parks and sing in the car. 

ABOUT TOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

The Toledo Symphony Orchestra is a community-supported organization of professional musicians and teachers who deliver quality performance and music education for all. 

Formed in 1943 as The Friends of Music and incorporated in 1951 as the Toledo Orchestra Association, Inc., the Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has grown from a core group of twenty-two part-time musicians to a regional orchestra that employs sixty-nine professional musicians who consider the Toledo Symphony their primary employer, as well as numerous extra players annually as repertoire demands. 

On January 1, 2019, the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet officially merged to form the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), a new non-profit organization dedicated to providing exceptional live music and dance performances and education for the region. This partnership promises to create new and invigorating programs, provide cost and revenue synergies in operations, and integrate the arts through shared educational missions. 

The Toledo Symphony reaches more than 260,000 individuals annually through performances and education programs. The series concerts (Masterworks, Pops, Chamber series) are the critical underpinning of the orchestra’s artistic mission and regularly draw people from 135 postal zip codes. Education programs, student performances, and community concerts are held in schools, neighborhood churches, performing arts centers, and community facilities throughout the region; many are offered at no charge or provided at a reduced fee to help expand participation.