Rome City Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) Award from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding support and commitment to music education. The district is one of only 18 in the state of Georgia to receive this honor.
Music and Rome City Schools have a long history of excellence dating back to when the school first opened in 1992, but this is the first time the district has received this award.
Rome’s music program continues to rate among the best in the state. Recently, every band from the district received superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluations. Rome High and Rome Middle School’s Chorus groups also received superior ratings at evaluations.
“We take a lot of pride in our music program at Rome City Schools. We have an amazing group of band and choral directors, as well as elementary music teachers who not only instruct and teach music but also care about students and want to see them succeed,” District Fine Arts Director Dr. Tab Brown said. “We are very thankful for a school system and a community that values and supports music education. It is an honor to receive this award, and it is a testament to the hard work of our directors, teachers, and students.”
Rome High School’s Marching Band won grand champion in both marching contests it competed in this school year, and Grand Finale and Grand Illusion, the high school and middle school show choirs, respectively, brought home awards from numerous competitions in three different states, all showing the strength of music and fine arts at Rome City Schools.
“Dr. Brown and his team are second to none, and it’s easy to see how good they are when our bands take the field or the stage, and when our choirs and show choirs perform. Rome City Schools devote time and energy to all facets of education, and Fine Arts play a huge part in that,” Rome City Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland said.
Now in its 27th year, the BCME program continues to spotlight and celebrate school districts and individual schools across the United States for their exemplary dedication to music education and their ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning as part of a well-rounded education.
Recipients of the 2026 BCME Awards were selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates key indicators, including funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities, and community support.