The CMA Foundation Partners With Country Music Trio Chapel Hart For Heartwarming Visit To Nashville Elementary School

THE CMA FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH COUNTRY MUSIC TRIO CHAPEL HART FOR HEARTWARMING VISIT TO NASHVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Eagle View Elementary School Students Celebrated for Songwriting During “Music In Our Schools Month”
Watch the Recap Video HERE

The CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, helped welcome Country Music trio Chapel Hart to Eagle View Elementary School in Nashville on Thursday, March 30. Throughout the month of March, the school’s third grade students participated in a songwriting competition in honor of Music In Our Schools Month. Under the direction of Eagle View’s Music Educator and Orff Ensemble Director, Ms. Alicia Engram, and Elementary Music Teacher and Band Director Mrs. Kathryn Davis, students learned about literary skills such as alliteration, rhyming words and figurative language as well as music vocabulary, writing lyrics and how to have a career in songwriting. Engram is also a two-time CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence.

“Getting the opportunity to go and visit Eagle View Elementary School was something that we didn’t know we needed,” said Chapel Hart. “To see strong music programs truly makes our hearts happy. Any time that we get to visit a school, it’s always super important for us to try and inspire at least one student. We hope that we were able to shine a little light on those sweet babies! We can’t wait to go back to visit again.”

“Often, we tout the incredible benefits music has on a child’s educational journey. Today, we saw one of the most amazing benefits of all: how music brings students joy,” said Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “The community that is Eagle View Elementary reminded us how connection through music allows students the opportunity to be seen, heard and celebrated. Every child in that auditorium sang along with Chapel Hart with enthusiasm and pride. They gave the students more than just a performance, they left them inspired and feeling so much love.”

Earlier this week, Chapel Hart surprised all of Eagle View’s third graders via a video message shared during the school’s morning announcements, congratulating everyone for their incredible songwriting skills before announcing Mrs. Fowler’s class had won the contest with their original song, “We Are One.” Mrs. Fowler’s students were inspired to write the song about being united despite their cultural differences and various languages spoken. Watch the students receiving the surprise news HERE, and read the full lyrics to “We Are One” HERE.

Chapel Hart’s visit Thursday morning had the school buzzing with anticipation the moment students arrived. As the trio walked into Eagle View’s auditorium, the excitement and appreciation from the room was deafening. Students eagerly applauded, waved, and frequently made heart signs with their hands throughout the assembly. Engram led Chapel Hart in a brief Q&A, where they discussed their appearance on “America’s Got Talent,” their approach to songwriting, and words of advice for students to never give up on their dreams. Following the Q&A, Chapel Hart performed “Glory Days,” leading students to sing along throughout the song.

As Chapel Hart took their seats following their performance, Mrs. Fowler’s class took the stage in matching Eagle View Preds yellow t-shirts to perform their winning song, “We Are One”: “We are one, we are one-un, from so many different places/We are one, we are one-un, we are all united.” Two students, Melvin and Laila, took the mic for solos during the song, earning passionate praise from their fellow classmates in the audience. After taking photos with Chapel Hart, students filed out of the auditorium, nearly everyone stopping for a hug or a high five from the trio.