Barry Manilow Surprises Catonsville High Music Director Chris Gnagey With $10,000 Award During Final Baltimore Concert at CFG Bank Arena

BALTIMORE, MD — A Baltimore County music educator got an unexpected spotlight when Barry Manilow honored Catonsville High School band director and music department chair Chris Gnagey with a $10,000 gift for the school’s music program.

The presentation came during the final night of Manilow’s Baltimore concert run at CFG Bank Arena, turning the end of the show into a celebration of a local teacher’s work.

Why the award mattered to Catonsville High

School officials described Gnagey as a teacher whose influence reaches beyond rehearsals and performances. Sonia Synkowski, the coordinator of integrated arts, said he brings passion, commitment and meaningful musical experiences to students and the wider Catonsville High community.

The award was framed as recognition of the creativity and care he brings to the classroom each day, along with the broader impact music education can have inside a public school.

The Manilow Music Project behind the donation

The money came from Manilow’s nonprofit, the Manilow Music Project, which is focused on supporting music education. The organization has now distributed more than $10 million in instruments and funding to music programs.

That long-running effort gave the Baltimore presentation extra weight, linking a one-night concert moment to a much larger push to keep school music programs supplied and visible.

What comes next for the school’s music program

The $10,000 award will go directly to Catonsville High School’s music program, giving the department added support as it continues serving students in Baltimore County.

For Gnagey and his program, the gift arrives as both a financial boost and a public nod from one of pop music’s most recognizable names.

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