2008 "How does music change lives?" Essay Contest

Thanks to all of the students, teachers, and schools that participated in the first-ever "How Does Music Change Lives" essay contest for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades sponsored by WQED and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.

• Riverview Junior/Senior High School in Oakmont, PA
• Canonsburg Middle School in Canonsburg, PA
• Fort Couch Middle School in Mt. Lebanon, PA
• Jefferson Middle School in Mt. Lebanon, PA
• Beaver Area Middle School in Beaver, PA
• Midland Elementary in Midland, PA
• Derry Middle School in Derry, PA
• Oak Glen Middle School in New Cumberland, WV
• Norwin Middle School in North Huntingdon, PA
• West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin, PA
• Immaculate Conception School in Pittsburgh, PA
• Harrison Junior High School in Scio, OH
• Wilmington Area Middle School in New Wilmington, PA
• Weir Middle School in Weirton, WV
• Trinity Middle School in Washington, PA
• Linton Middle School in Pittsburgh, PA
• South Hills Middle School in Pittsburgh, PA

We received dozens of essays from students in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. Staff from WQED's Education Department narrowed the contest down to fifteen essays and members of WQED's Community Advisory Board (CAB) reviewed each essay and graded them based on the specified criteria. The essays were unique and touching making the decision for our judges very difficult.

Congratulations to Natalie Kindler of Jefferson Middle School whose essay, "The Beat of My Heart" was chosen as the winner.

The bus will visit Natalie's school on Tuesday, October 30. Natalie will receive: an iPod Shuffle courtesy of Apple, a prize package courtesy of Maxell, and will record an original music video project on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus with four classmates.

Jefferson Middle School will receive: Logic Pro 7 Music Production Software courtesy of Apple Computers, G7 music notation software courtesy of Sibelius and a Cube-60 guitar amplifier courtesy of Roland.

"Lennon" and "John Lennon" are trademarks of Yoko Ono Lennon.
All artwork ©Yoko Ono Lennon. Licensed exclusively through Bag One Arts, Inc.

The "How does music change lives?" essay contest is sponsored by WQED Pittsburgh and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and its sponsors.

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is sponsored by: