MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity, revealed the nominees for the 2026 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment. The winner of this prestigious award, which recognizes excellence in music education, will be announced at The 55th Annual JUNO Awards in Hamilton, ON on March 29, 2026.

The MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, now in its 21st year, celebrates the impact, innovation, and passion demonstrated by music educators across the country. This year’s nominees embody the characteristics of an exceptional music teacher, from fostering inclusivity to advocating for the importance of music education in all schools nationwide.

The finalists for the 2026 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment, are:

• Zeda Ali - Sunny View Middle School - Brampton, ON
• Lynn Harper - Chateauguay Valley Regional High School - Ormstown, QC
• Alex Hutcheon - Cremona School - Cremona, AB
• Isabelle Lemieux - École Caps-des-Neiges - Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC
• Raquel McIntosh - Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School - Hamilton, ON

Zeda Ali from Sunny View Middle School (Brampton, ON) has now got a second nomination for this Award on her belt. She is the driving force behind the school’s steel pan program, one of the few in the Peel District School Board. Zeda goes beyond traditional instruction, making music accessible and relatable for all students, incorporating pieces from Trinidad, Guyana, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and beyond.

Lynn Harper from Chateauguay Valley Regional High School (Ormstown, QC) is not just the music teacher — but the choir director, performing arts leader and Arts Consultant at the school, highly respected and an inspiration to students and community. She is outspoken about arts funding, inclusion, and equity in the classroom, a safe space where youth are encouraged to take creative risks and find their voice.

Alex Hutcheon from Cremona School (Cremona, AB) is a visionary educator who rebuilt the music program that was at risk of being cut, into a thriving community of five concert and jazz bands, representing more than 60% of the eligible student population and varying skills. He even engineered instrument solutions so students with physical disabilities could fully participate, which opened the door for opportunities beyond the classroom.

Isabelle Lemieux from École Caps-des-Neiges (Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC) is a deeply committed music teacher to her students from early childhood through Grade 6. She creates rich, inclusive musical experiences through choir, instrumental harmony programs, and classroom instruction that blend music, technology, culture, and community engagement such as participating in large-scale events such as Vocalies, to performing at seniors’ residences.

Raquel McIntosh from Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School (Hamilton, ON) is an extraordinary educator that transformed the music program that experienced years of turnover and fragmentation, into established choirs, organized school performances, and on stage & behind the scenes opportunities for every student. When the school lost its music room and library, Raquel initiated “Beyond the Soundtrack”, a collaboration of Spoken Word and Slam Poetry. She also founded “Creative Minds”, a space for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students to indulge in identity exploration, self-regulation, and emotional growth through music.

“I would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the nominees for the 2026 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment. It is our greatest honour to highlight the important work and advocacy done by music educators across the country,” said Kristy Fletcher, President of MusiCounts. “This well-deserved spotlight on these five teachers highlights the impact great educators have on kids, and the importance of continuing to support and sustain music education for every young person in Canada.”

One outstanding educator will be chosen among the five nominees by an external committee of music education specialists and announced as the MusiCounts Teacher of The Year Award winner during The 55th Annual JUNO Awards at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, ON on March 29, 2026. The winner receives a JUNO Award statuette, a $10,000 cash prize, and a grant for their school through the MusiCounts School Music Funding Program.

Please visit musicounts.ca to learn more about MusiCounts and the Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment.

Summaries for each of the nominees are available here, and photos are available here.