Each January, the Arts and Education Council (A&E) presents the St. Louis Arts Awards, an inspiring evening honoring the artists, educators, philanthropists, corporate citizens and arts organizations whose outstanding contributions to our cultural community make St. Louis such a vibrant place to live, learn, work and play. Since 1992, the St. Louis Arts Awards has celebrated more than 170 honorees and raised more than $7.2 million to benefit A&E's annual campaign, which supports nearly 100 arts organizations in the bi-state region. This year's sold-out St. Louis Arts Awards will honor seven extraordinary individuals and organizations, including music educator Johnetta Haley for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.

Haley, 94, was one of four African-American teachers hired by the Kirkwood School District following this historic ruling in Brown v Board of Education (1954). From a family of five generations of educators, Haley has committed her life to bettering the community through education, inspring the lives and careers of many over her 50 year career in music education.

Haley directed her first choir at age 15, but began her professional career in 1945 at Lincoln High School in East St. Louis. In 1950 she began teaching at Meacham Park’s Turner School until Nipher Junior High (then Nipher High School) hired her in 1955. In her 18 years at Nipher, she rose above discrimination and racism to teach her students how to reach their potential through music.

Michael Hamilton, co-founder of STAGES St. Louis (an A&E grantee), was in Haley’s music class for three years at Nipher. “When I think about being in class with Johnetta, I don’t think about the music I learned,” Hamilton explained. “I think about the life I learned. She was the first person who really seemed to see me for me.”

Haley refused to let the racial tensions of the day impact her ability to teach her students.

“Mrs. Haley never brought her challenges into the classroom,” said former student Janet McCormick. “Music was her way of teaching you not to judge a person by the color of their skin.”

Despite facing a petition with more than 1,500 signatures protesting the integration of the school, Haley became one of the most popular teachers among the students.

“I became so popular they had to add more classes,” Haley said. “Everybody wanted to be in my choir.”

In 1972, Haley joined the faculty of the music department at Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville, where former students include current SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook and acclaimed classical pianist Dr. Stan Ford, who will perform at the January 22 event in Haley's honor.

Haley’s contributions went beyond the classroom, including growing SIUE’s East St. Louis Center to one of the largest in the nation and co-founding Young Heroes in Music, a partnership with Classic99 FM for African-American students to perform classical music in monthly concerts broadcast live from the Missouri Botanical Garden.

In the years since her retirement in 1994, former students have often reached out to express their gratitude for her teachings. Recently, Haley told one group of former students, “I didn’t know I made such an impact on you all. All I wanted you to do was to be the best.”

To make a tribute gift honoring Johnetta Haley, click here. For more information about the 2018 St. Louis Arts Awards, click here