For almost 20 years, Adrian Maclin has changed life inside and outside the classroom.
Maclin, a music teacher at Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee, is the winner of the 2025 Music Educator Award published by Recording Academy and Grammy Museum.
“We don’t refer to ourselves as a choir,” McLean said. “We call ourselves a choir family.”
The effect on his students
McLean’s present and former students tell him that he is a father.
Joe Aguilar, a student at Cordova High School, said, “He had this energy and it is the same energy that you want to be around. “He gave me a lesson of life. It’s not just about choirs.”
McLean’s commitment and determination have set up the process of his students’ lives.
“When I moved here for the first time, I and my family had some financial problems and some traffic problems, and McLean would take me to school at 5:30 in the morning.” Head said.
Sean Hunt, the current student, said that the change changed him in McClean’s class and quickly influenced him.
Hunt said, “I went to high school and connected it with two people who thought they were friends. I had some difficulties. ” “One day they said that my schedule changed and said that it would take two weeks.”
Hunt is now planning to participate in music education thanks to McLean.
McClean said of Hunt, “He brought my tears at the beginning of the grade.”
Dedication to academic excellence
McLean, who started singing in church as a child, decided to devote himself to teaching his life when he was in high school.
For almost 20 years, he took the nation’s choirs to show his talents.
“Children are coming in and dealing with things. They are having trouble. I know that children have a smile with homelessness, caring for them, and I have changed them.” He said.
McClean claims that his students’ talents should include academic excellence in addition to singing skills. In his class, you can find three academic achievements at school.
“Interesting words, he will not take a doll that sings a lot of songs all over the country,” said Aguilar.
He also reminds students that they represent not only themselves but also communities.
“We have been under pressure because they are mostly a choir for African Americans and minority students. Therefore, we already have a vision for others’ hearts of what we are.” “It’s good, every time we sing, let’s show more things than we can think about whenever we perform.”
His students say he is grateful for the unstable support of the McLean.
Aguilar said, “Thank you for believing in a child who sometimes doesn’t believe in him. “You mean the world to me. I love you so much.”
I am happy to be a member of the trip to McLean.
“It is joy to know that a small part has changed in your life.”
Nancy Chen
