“Finding Your Voice”—a phrase we hear often in movies, speeches, and conversations. But how do we truly find it? For 2024 Manilow Music Project Teacher Award Maria Taylor, a teacher at Bronx Health Sciences High School, it began before she could even talk.
Maria grew up singing and fell in love with musicals early on. It was her elementary school chorus teacher, Miss Dee Buckley, who gave her the tools and inspiration to pursue her passion. Teachers like Miss Buckley, and now Maria herself, are essential in helping students discover their voices and their potential.
Maria’s teaching journey began at just fifteen years old, and she’s now in her 11th year with the Department of Education. At Bronx Health Sciences, Maria teaches Scene Studies and Advanced Acting while directing and producing musicals. She also runs SING, a unique competition where students write, direct, and produce their own musicals based on a shared theme. This initiative not only builds school spirit but nurtures creativity, independence, and responsibility—valuable skills her students will carry for life.
When Maria first arrived at BHS, her ultimate goal was to provide her students with a keyboard. As she says, “It’s alluring—people gather around to sing, listen, and connect. It creates a special community.” Winning the 2024 Manilow Music Teacher Award finally made her goal a reality.
But the support didn’t stop there. Along with a keyboard, Maria used the award to purchase new microphones and a rack, ensuring her students’ voices could be heard—literally. Check out this behind-the-curtain snippet of Maria’s students rehearsing!
With their voices now amplified on stage, Maria’s students are also gaining skills behind the scenes. From setting up microphones to managing production logistics, these experiences teach them responsibility, teamwork, and technical knowledge—skills that will serve them well in every area of life.
“I love when you see a student have an ‘aha!’ moment,” Maria shares. “Like the moment a piano player understands a chord, you see it click behind their eyes.” It’s moments like these that bring her students closer to finding their voices.
Maria Taylor’s dedication is shaping future leaders, and her students are thriving thanks to her guidance and the support of the Manilow Music Project. Look at these incredible students and the new equipment they’re using to tell their stories! (insert pictures
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