By admin 
Introduction
Barry Manilow Honors Portland Music Teacher, Donates $10,000 to Support Local High School Program
It was more than just another stop on a superstar’s farewell tour. On Wednesday night, Portland’s Moda Center transformed into a place of celebration, gratitude, and community pride as music legend Barry Manilow took the stage—possibly for the final time in the city. But before the arena filled with the familiar beats of “Copacabana” and the soaring notes of Manilow’s greatest hits, the spotlight briefly shifted to a local educator whose dedication to music has changed countless young lives.
The Barry Manilow Music Project, a charitable initiative created to support underfunded school music programs across the United States, selected Nick Caldwell, band director and music teacher at Ida B. Wells High School, as Portland’s honoree. The recognition is part of Manilow’s “The Last Concerts” tour, during which one outstanding music teacher is celebrated in each city along the artist’s North American route.
Caldwell, who has spent 14 years teaching at Ida B. Wells, received a warm onstage welcome from Manilow himself. The award included $5,000 worth of brand-new musical instruments for the school and an additional $5,000 directly to Caldwell, bringing the total to $10,000. For a department that has long struggled with outdated and aging equipment—some instruments dating back to 1957—the support could not have come at a better time.
“It just means a lot that everyone rallied together to help me get some money for the band program,” Caldwell said, visibly moved. He explained that most improvements over the years have depended heavily on fundraising, requiring significant effort from both students and staff. “Music is underfunded. All my money is coming from fundraising pretty much. To get a chunk of change like this is going to be a big help to get valuable percussion instruments.”
The selection process brought together the Portland community: ten local teachers were nominated, the public cast their votes, and Caldwell emerged as the winner. His colleagues, students, and supporters packed the arena, cheering loudly as Manilow recognized the impact Caldwell has had on young musicians.
For Manilow, the initiative reflects a lifelong belief in the power of music education. Over the past two decades, the Barry Manilow Music Project has donated more than $10 million in instruments and scholarships to students nationwide. Each award represents not only a financial contribution but also a symbolic gesture—an acknowledgment of the teachers who nurture the next generation of performers, composers, and creative thinkers.
As Manilow lit up the stage later in the evening, performing the classic songs that have defined his multi-decade career, Caldwell’s students knew that their own musical journeys were about to change. While the night may have marked Manilow’s final bow in Portland, it signaled a brand-new chapter for the Ida B. Wells music program—one filled with hope, renewed energy, and possibilities for years to come.