Winner Revealed On The JUNO Awards Live Broadcast

MusiCounts, Canada's leading music education charity, is excited to reveal Jeannie Hunter from Nepean High School in Ottawa, ON as the winner of the esteemed national 2025 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment.

For over 30 years, Jeannie Hunter has taught a wide range of music programs with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, and has spent her career advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the music classroom. She was the founding director of Brookfield High School's ‘World Voices Choir,’ which collaborated with social justice organizations to use music as a tool for social change. Jeannie’s students have received national accolades, including the 2015 title of ‘Canada’s Greatest Music Class’ and came second in their category of the CBC Music Class Challenge this year. Additionally, Jeannie has received several teaching awards, is an instructor with Ottawa’s Orkidstra (the first El Sistema program in North America), and serves as a member of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association Board of Directors.

“MusiCounts is proud to celebrate Jeannie Hunter with the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment,” said Kristy Fletcher, President of MusiCounts. “Jeannie’s career spans three decades, and her influence on students, staff, and her community is remarkable. She is a testament to the impact a music teacher can have, and embodies all of the qualities of an exceptional educator. Congratulations, Jeannie!

Announced live on the JUNO Awards broadcast from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, Jeannie is the 20th recipient of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. In recognition of this achievement, she will receive a $10,000 cash prize, a significant contribution to her school’s music program through the MusiCounts School Music Funding Program, a JUNO Award statuette, and grants to additional schools in her honour.

"I am truly humbled and overjoyed to be named the 2025 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year. A heartfelt thank you to my incredible students, whose enthusiasm and dedication inspire me every day. I am also deeply grateful to my fellow educators and administrators, whose shared belief in the transformative power of music education enriches the lives of young learners. To my family, thank you for your unwavering support throughout my journey as a music educator ,” said Jeannie Hunter. “And finally, a sincere thank you to MusiCounts and Anthem Entertainment for honouring teachers with this prestigious Award."

Since 2005, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award has celebrated and honoured outstanding Canadian music educators annually for their impact on both their students and the broader music education community. The prestigious Award is made possible through the generous support of Anthem Entertainment.

PHOTOS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Photos of Jeannie Hunter: will be available here.

Nominees for the 2025 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment:

• Drew Van Allen - Nakoda Elementary School - Mînî Thnî, AB (formerly Morley)
• Emily Dominey - Dundas Valley Secondary School - Hamilton, ON
• Greg Chomut - Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School - Thunder Bay, ON
• Jeannie Hunter - Nepean High School - Ottawa, ON - Award Winner
• Robert Colbourne - Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School - St. John’s, NL