NETHERLANDS — A local band director has been awarded this year’s Calvin Langesjan Excellence in Music Education Award from the Dutch Chorale.

This year’s winner is Mike Hamann, Band Director of West Ottawa Public Schools. Hamann has been teaching at his WOPS for 23 years. In addition to being a band director, in high school he conducted two of his jazz bands and in Makatawa he teaches woodwinds at Bay Middle School.

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Created in 2019, the Calvin Langejans Excellence in Music Education Award is presented annually to local music educators who “share their love and enthusiasm for music with their students.”

The award is named after Karl Langejans, a longtime music educator who founded the Dutch Choir. Langejan taught in West Ottawa from 1959 until his 1989 and played a major role in the development of the district’s music program.

Langejans presented the award to Hamann at Chorale’s gala dinner on Thursday, September 22nd, and was “particularly pleased” to present the award to a fellow WOPS teacher.

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Hamann has held various roles in state band associations. His jazz his band won state awards and his symphony orchestra performed at state conferences. In April, the Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Western Michigan University Spring Conference.