Music for All has announced that the Heights Middle School Symphonic Band is a recipient of the 2026 Advocacy in Action Awards. These awards highlight educators and programs that have created an event or idea that is exceptional in their field and community.
The Advocacy in Action awards are presented in five categories: Community Involvement, Elementary Excellence, Innovative Fundraising, Marketing and Promotion, and Student Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention. Heights Middle School Symphonic Band is awarded in the Community Involvement category.
The Collaborative National Anthem Performance initiative brings together the symphonic band students from Heights Middle School and James Monroe Middle School to perform at an Albuquerque Isotopes “School Day Matinee” game. Students rehearse separately, then unite for a joint performance, fostering musical collaboration, peer connection, and civic duty for the community. The event also allows time for social interaction and group integration between the students.
Launched in Spring 2025, the first performance marked the beginning of what is now planned to become an annual tradition celebrating music education, teamwork, patriotism, community service, and collaboration between the two schools.
On May 1, 2025, the James Monroe and Heights Middle School bands came together for the very first time to perform the National Anthem at the Isotopes ballpark in Albuquerque, and they sounded fantastic! Even more impressive? This was their first time playing together! We share this recognition with the James Monroe students and music directors for bringing this memorable moment to life and also for capturing it in photos and videos. A big thank you to the Albuquerque Isotopes for continuing to shine a spotlight on our talented student musicians, and heartfelt appreciation to the students and directors for bringing this memorable moment to life.
The Advocacy in Action Awards recognize and celebrate the commitment of school administrators, community leaders, teachers, and parents who believe in music education and are advocating to ensure that it is part of a comprehensive education for all children.
Advocacy in Action is a signature program of Music for All designed to collect, recognize, and share effective practices and initiatives that support music education in our schools. The recipients will be featured on Music for All’s Advocacy in Action Archive, where their ideas will be available for music educators across the country to learn from and emulate.
For more on the Advocacy in Action program and to see the full list of recipients, please visit advocacy.musicforall.org.
About Music for All
Music for All’s mission is to create, provide, and expand positively life-changing experiences through music. Our vision is to be a catalyst to ensure that every child in America has access and opportunity for active music-making in their scholastic environment. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, Music for All’s events and programs serve more than 600,000 attendees annually –– and more than 1.7 million program participants since 1975. Programs include the Bands of America Regional and the Grand National Championships for marching bands; the Bands of America Summer Camp for students and teachers; the Music for All National Festival for concert bands, orchestras, and percussion ensembles; national honor ensembles including the Honor Band of America, Jazz Band of America, and the Honor Band in the Rose Parade®, Advocacy in Action Awards, the Music for All Podcast Network, and affiliate concert and marching events across America. Visit musicforall.org.