CONGRATULATIONS! Barry Manilow honors West Seattle High School music teacher Ethan Thomas during local concert

Thanks to concertgoers who sent the video, including John Severson, whose clip is above. It’s from last night’s Climate Pledge Arena concert with music legend Barry Manilow, who honored West Seattle High School music educator Ethan Thomas as the latest winner of a $10,000 grant from his Manilow Music Project, which the superstar singer said has given out $10 million to help buy instruments and cover other costs of music education. As you’ll hear Manilow explain in the video, they’ve been asking music students in cities on his concert tour to vote for music teachers to win the award. The award was first announced in a WSHS newsletter before school got out for the summer (thanks to the parent who forwarded it):

Congratulations to WSHS Band Director Ethan Thomas, who won the Barry Manilow Music Project’s Outstanding Music Teacher Contest! Mr. Thomas will be honored on July 12 during Barry Manilow’s Last Arena Tour. He will receive $5,000 in new instruments for the WSHS music program.

The award turned out to be $10,000!

Music Hound July 13, 2025 (4:55 pm)

Well deserved award. Thank you Mr. Thomas for the extra effort that makes the WSHS band experience an experience to last a lifetime.

Doug B July 13, 2025 (6:08 pm)

Congratulations!!! Mr Thomas is the real deal! So happy for him!!!

He’s inspired so many kids, including our own!! ❤️❤️❤️

jkpatman July 13, 2025 (6:10 pm)

HUGE congrats, ethan! this wildcat community is so proud of you for building such an amazing program in our school! this win is so well deserved!

Toni Reineke July 13, 2025 (6:28 pm)

Adding my congratulations to a very deserving music teacher, who has built an outstanding program and WSHS!Way to go, Ethan!

SLJ July 13, 2025 (6:32 pm)

That’s fantastic! Mr. Thomas (and Mr. Fritts) are amazing! Congratulations!

Workdowntown July 13, 2025 (7:03 pm)

How cool! Congrats Mr. Thomas!

Man-i-woah! July 13, 2025 (8:24 pm)

I can’t smile without you, Ethan Thomas!

TTT July 13, 2025 (11:42 pm)

Looks like you made it! congrats Mr Thomas!

B July 14, 2025 (12:06 am)

That is awesome 👌 👏! Congratulations

Belvidear July 14, 2025 (8:16 am)

Congratulations, Mr. Thomas! And thank you to Mr. Fritts for getting the word out on the nomination!

Sharon Parton July 14, 2025 (9:37 am)

What a Blessing and an honor for Barry to do this for every city and state that he performs in giving these Schools his Manilow music instruments! God bless those music Teachers but most of all God bless you Barry! Your love and compassion speaks for it all!

proudbandmom July 14, 2025 (10:01 am)

warmest congratulations to Ethan Thomas and I’m so excited for the WSHS music program! very, very grateful my child found their home in wildcat drumline, percussion, and jazz band and are on the path to a lifetime enriched by music and community.

Kathy July 14, 2025 (10:42 am)

Glad to hear we still have music programs in the schools. It’s important! Art programs, too.

DRW July 14, 2025 (11:34 am)

This is so awesome!! This would make my Dad smile!

Eileen July 14, 2025 (12:59 pm)

This is amazing! Congrats to Ethan Thomas and all his work at WSHS! He makes such a welcoming community in the music program and he is such a great teacher.