Band director Womack wins Opus Foundation Award

Vincent Womack took out a white handkerchief and dabbed his face a couple times upon learning that he had been selected as winner of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation Award as band director at the Foshay Learning Center near downtown Los Angeles.

The 45-year-old trumpeter and pianist became one of five music teachers in the United States this week to receive the honor. The award recognizes instructors who have a passion for helping give students a deep appreciation and love for music.

As part of the award, he will receive $10,000, money he said would go toward a down payment on a house.

"The only thought I had was ‘I wish my mom was here,'" said Womack, a father of a 15-month-old daughter, recalling the moment he learned he was selected for the award. "I was absolutely numb, I couldn't hear a thing. I thought about the many situations we have overcome to make this music program work. It was good that my wife was with me on the stage ... it helped me keep calm."

In bestowing the award, Felice Mancini, the executive director of the Foundation that provides musical instruments to schools that cannot afford them, described Foshay’s band as “the hottest orchestra, not just in this school, but in town.”

“You are all very lucky to have him teaching you,” Mancini said to the students gathered at the assembly to honor their band director. “Great teachers can make anything interesting, and what you are learning here will serve you well in life, not just here.”

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation was inspired by the acclaimed motion picture "Mr. Holland’s Opus," the story of a dedicated music teacher making a strong impact on generations of students. The film’s composer, Michael Kamen, founded the Foundation in 1996 as a commitment to the future of music education.

The moment was especially poignant for Foshay. Just the day before the announcement, parents and teachers, students and community members had voted on plans to run 30 new and underperforming campuses in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Foshay was among the schools.

It was a surprise for Womack. He said he was told about the assembly toward the end of last week. He was told that the assembly would put on a performance in front of dignitaries from downtown who would be visiting the school.

Before the announcement, Womack led his students – all 73 members of the band, playing drums, clarinet, trumpet, flute, saxophone and trombone. They performed three pieces through the entire program. In the beginning, before the announcement, they played the theme from “Star Wars," “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and a collection of Duke Ellington pieces.

After the ceremony, they played cartoon melodies, including the “Pink Panther” theme, in honor of Felice Mancini, whose father Henry Mancini composed it.

She said they had learned about Womack’s work in 2002 and that he had been chosen because he was a good mentor and because he inspires his students.

“This is one of those days you remember for the rest of your life,” said Womack, who was introduced to music as a child through his mother who played the piano. “This award means that we have done some good things, made some good decisions.”

Jasmine Willis, a senior saxophone player, said Womack has always been there for her.

“Womack is like my dad,” she said.

She loves the loud weekend practice sessions and how Womack uses food-related metaphors to critique the students’ music.

“Somedays he says we sound like a soggy cereal, which isn’t as good as we would want it to be,” she said.

Womack can be tough.

Eleventh-grade trumpet player Ricardo Portillo, who has been with the band for a year, says he likes Womack’s tough love.

“But every day he gives us pep talks that really encourage us to try as hard as we can,” he said.

When someone’s off, Womack puts on his drill instructor hat and makes everyone take laps around the field.

Willis remembers a time when someone played a flat note instead of a regular, and Womack made them run 15 laps around the field. "We were upset... we blamed someone, but we did it anyways. We’re still a team.”

Oisset Castanon, a 12th grader who plays the clarinet, said Womack expects nothing but the best from his students.

“For Womack, there is no such word as ‘I can’t do it’, ‘I give up’, ‘It’s too hard’,” Castanon said.

Tenth grader Marlytte Garrido remembered how Womack had persuaded her to keep playing music when she wanted to give it up.

“We were going through many different band teachers and it was not working for me,” she said. “But Womack talked to me and encouraged me to continue.”

Though he has taught and learned music in different organizations around the country, he says Foshay is special.

“The kids here are sincere and earnest… they care so much, the passion is so great here, and I believe that’s why I am still here.”

Willis summed up the feeling.

“We don’t have uniforms like other school bands. We just have T-shirts. But we have a lot more spirit,” she said.