Evan Bueckert - Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence
Evan is currently a teacher at Mount Baker Secondary School in Cranbrook. Evan’s teaching approach combines traditional performance-based music training with courses in computer-based composition and recording technology. He uses the attraction music has for some students who underperform in other areas of the curriculum to help them improve their broader academic performance.
Evan wants to make sure students never lose touch with the joy of performing and hearing music and involve adult musicians in student performances and invite them to speak to students and lead projects. Evan led a pilot program called Music Composition and Technology, which teaches computer-based music composition and recording arts skills and has become the focus of the school's music program. He has created such interest in music education that approximately one out of four students takes part, up from less than two percent.