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How you can help a Charlotte music teacher win $10,000 from singer Barry Manilow

CHARLOTTE — Legendary entertainer Barry Manilow is bringing his winter tour to Charlotte’s Spectrum Center in January, and to coincide with the show, the singer-songwriter will award a deserving music teacher with $10,000.

The Manilow Music Project, a program of the Manilow Fund, will recognize a music teacher in each city where the tour makes a stop. Each winner will receive $5,000 plus another $5,000 in “Manilow bucks,” which can be used to purchase musical instruments for their school’s music program. The winner will also receive VIP tickets to the concert.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board and Spectrum Center suggested schools and teachers in the Charlotte area to be considered for the award.

These are the teachers who were selected:

Chris Moreau — East Mecklenburg High School

Kathryn Heinen — East Mecklenburg High School

Cole Freeman — Myers Park High School

Whit Blount — Myers Park High School

Kevin Herriman — North Mecklenburg High School

Stephanie Madsen — Northwest School of the Arts High School

Kristin Stonnell — Northwest School of the Arts High School

Erica Hefner — Northwest School of the Arts High School

Walter Suggs — Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology High School

Quinten Wrenn — William Amos Hough High School

“It is wonderful to partner with our concert venues to identify schools and music teachers in their neighborhoods that deserve this small token of my gratitude,” Manilow said in a news release. “Many school music programs have either been terminated, or their funds have been severely depleted. I always want to do my part through The Manilow Music Project to keep music in schools.”

Online voting is open here through Dec. 28.

Manilow will perform at Spectrum Center on Jan. 21. He will present the winner with their award backstage the night of the concert.

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