McHenry Community High School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society is the first runner up for the National Chapter of the Year Scholarship Award out of all worldwide chapters of the student music honor society.
The school will get a $800 check from the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the Music Honor Society Advisory Council. The money can be used for starting a new music enrichment activity or a scholarship program in 2025-2026.
The 36 member Tri-M chapter offers a place for music students to sharpen their skills and share their love of music with other students and the community. Each year, students volunteer with middle school music programs, host Coffeehouse performance events, and teach music to younger students through Children’s Music Day and other programs.
The Coffeehouse events, which are offered twice per year, students are invited to an evening of showcasing their musical talents.
“I’m just so proud of our students,” said Tracy Tobin, Tri-M advisor and lead instructional assistant at McHenry High School. “They put in so much time and effort to make music fun and to share their passion. We live by the motto: Music Is Important!”
This year, Tri-M added a Middle School Music Clinic, in addition to the Children’s Music Day for younger students. They also meet with adjusted learning students throughout the year to teach them band and choir lessons.