The NAMM Foundation has honored Chatham Central School District with its Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) designation for outstanding support and commitment to music education! NAMM awards the BCME each year to schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students. 2026 marks the 11th year that has been recognized Chatham as a BCME.
Chatham CSD was selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates key indicators, including funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities and community support. To uphold the program’s rigor and credibility, all applications were independently reviewed and verified by WolfBrown, a leading research and evaluation firm specializing in education and the arts.
Chatham CSD offers band, orchestra, chorus, and musical theater programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This year, we hosted our inaugural all-district strings festival, adding to a busy calendar of over 25 annual performances that includes concerts and musicals, as well as All-County, Area All-State, and All-State events. Our next major event is the annual Music In the Park concert on June 16.
“It's pretty incredible how much we accomplish in such a small school because of the support of our Board of Education, administration, dedicated students, and parents,” remarked Chatham’s Music K-12 Teacher Leader, Samantha McShane.
The dedication of our students was on full display at this year’s NYSSMA Solo & Small Ensemble Festival (which Chatham hosted), where they performed 75 solos and duets, including nine All-State auditions. We are proud to have had two students join the All-State ensemble last December and are currently awaiting the results for next year’s group in August.
This level of success is made possible through the consistent support of our families and community groups such as the Chatham Fine Arts Booster Club, Chatham Education Foundation, and Mary E. Dardess Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, among others.
The NAMM Foundation is the charitable arm of the National Association of Music Merchants, the global trade association for the music products industry. The foundation works to remove systemic barriers that limit access to music-making and career pathways in the music industry. By investing in bold ideas and innovative solutions, we strive to build inclusive and thriving musical communities. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.