The CMA Foundation, a national music education nonprofit and the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, named Maine South High School Band Director David Hutter a Music Teacher of Excellence. Music Teachers of Excellence (MTOE) names 30 music teachers nationally each year with the award and supports each educator with stipends for classrooms, tailored professional development. An awards ceremony in their honor will be held at The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tenn., on October 7, 2026.
“The CMA Foundation recognizes the integral role music and music education has on a student’s life,” said Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director of the CMA Foundation. “Music teachers support young people in finding their passion, building key skills like perseverance and determination, and achieving more academically. This award is a recognition that a student’s teacher has the greatest in-school impact on student learning.”
Across the country, music teachers are nominated by their peers, students, and administrators. From there, a select group is chosen based on their commitment to students, their innovation in the classroom, their leadership, and the lasting difference they make in the lives of young people.
Hutter is in his 11th year as Band Director at Maine South High School. He teaches the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and two Percussion Techniques classes. He also directs the Marching Band and Musical Pit Orchestra and runs the unified drumline where band students work with special education students on drumline performances for football games and assemblies.
His bands have been selected to perform at the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival in 2022, 2023, and was named the 2A Honor Band for 2024. They also performed at Music for All’s National Concert Band Festival in 2025. Additionally, Hutter is a frequent judge, clinician, and director for festivals, contests, and various honor bands around the Chicago suburbs.
As part of this recognition, Hutter joins only 29 other educators from across the nation who are being celebrated for their extraordinary contributions to music education. Each Music Teacher of Excellence recipient receives a $5,000 stipend, split between their classroom and personal use to champion the vital work they do across the country.
“Mr. Hutter has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his students and to the power of music education,” shares Maine South Fine Arts Department Chair Teralyn Keith. “His impact can be seen not only in the success of his ensembles, but in the confidence, discipline, and passion his students carry with them every day.”
The MTOE program is in its 10th year and has honored more than 200 public school teachers nationwide and has provided more than $1.4 million directly into public schools since 2016. This year’s recipients hail from 12 states and work as band directors, orchestra directors, choir directors, and lead drumming ensembles. In addition to being classroom teachers, department leads, and curriculum leads, recipients have founded and led drumlines, symphonies, mentoring programs, and local festivals for young people in their communities.
Watch ABC 7’s coverage of Hutter’s surprise at https://bit.ly/4eyG9VA.