Korah Collegiate principal Iacoe wins provincial award for support of musical education

Sergio Iacoe, Korah Collegiate & Vocational School principal, has received the 2019-20 Ontario Music Educators Association (OMEA) Administrators of Excellence Award for his support of Korah’s music program.

The award is given by the OMEA annually for an Ontario school administrator for his/her support of music and music education within their school.

The award came after Iacoe was nominated by Denine Williams, a Korah Collegiate music teacher and director of its well-received musicals, and Ryan LaRue, a 2012 Korah music student/graduate now living and working as an engineer in southern Ontario.

It came as a surprise for Iacoe.

“I didn’t even know Denine and Ryan had nominated me. Toward the end of May I received an email from the Ontario Music Educators Association (informing him of the award),” Iacoe said, speaking to SooToday.  

“I thanked them...(but) I look more at the award as a recognition of them (Korah’s music department educators),” Iacoe said.

“Because of his support, we have three full time music teachers for 830 high school students, which is a testament in itself,” Williams wrote in her letter to the OMEA, nominating Iacoe for the award.

“Within the course calendar we are able to run vocal, instrumental, concert band, musical theatre, guitar, recording and computer music classes at all grade levels because of Sergio’s support. Over 50 per cent of the school is involved in the music program and 75 per cent of the Grade 9 students take instrumental and piano keyboarding classes...Sergio is like a music teacher as he ensures the students are gathered into the school, encouraged to be their best and challenged to be able to leave the school a better human being,” Williams wrote.

“Sergio supports the music program, not only financially, but through attendance at concerts, musicals and even band rehearsals, always making time to recognize students and music staff on their efforts in music making. Because of his support, thousands of community members and students from across the city have had the opportunity to frequent band concerts, vocal nights, Music Mondays and Musical Theatre Productions,” Williams wrote.

“Mr. Iacoe is committed to fostering a community of musical appreciation. He is an ardent supporter of all musical events held at his school, including ensemble instrumental and vocal performances, the in-house rock band (Mustang Sally) and the school’s large, flourishing musical theatre program,” LaRue wrote in his nomination letter.

“For example, the annual musical theatre production features Broadway-style shows such as The Phantom of the Opera or Disney’s The Little Mermaid and involves over 250 students, staff, graduates, and community partners. The production routinely reaches audiences of over 2,000 people…this is in addition to another 2,000 elementary school students who Mr. Iacoe invites and accommodates at the school, allowing these younger children to explore new musical avenues,” LaRue wrote.

Many students in Korah’s music program have moved on to successful careers in the arts as performers, educators and producers.

As reported in times past by SooToday, Mustang Sally and Korah musicals are cornerstones of the Sault high school's community presence.

“It’s absolutely rewarding when you see these young people continue in music as an interest or a career…it (the OMEA award is) is very, very nice,” Iacoe said, adding the award is somewhat ironic, stating his own strengths lie not in the arts, but rather in the sciences. 

The Korah principal said he is hopeful programs and events such as Mustang Sally concerts and Korah Collegiate musicals will proceed live (and not virtually) in a back-to-normal post-COVID era.