Three West Orange County music teachers nominated for award

Vote for Ocoee, Dr. Phillips or Windermere high school music teachers for the Manilow Music Teacher Award.

By Liz Ramos
| 10:07 a.m. December 1, 2025

Observer School Zone
News

Music teachers from Ocoee, Dr. Phillips and Windermere high schools have been nominated for the Manilow Music Teacher Award.

The Manilow Music Project "empowers underfunded school music programs to provide quality music education."

Ocoee High's band director Bernie Hendrix, Dr. Phillips High's director of orchestras Raine Hollingsworth and Windermere High band director Marc Kolodinsky all have been nominated for the award.

The winner will receive $5,000 and an additional $5,000 for new instruments.

Votes will determine the Orlando winner. Voting will be open until Monday, Dec. 15, at on.barrymanilow.com/trk/mmporlando.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.