Building a Music Legacy: Nicolas Rosario, BBB Music Teacher of the Year 2025

At Bigger Better Brains, we know that music teachers are the backbone of thriving school communities, often going above and beyond to create opportunities for their students. Each year, we recognize an outstanding early-career music educator who is making an exceptional impact.

For 2025, we are thrilled to award Nicolas Rosario as the BBB Music Teacher of the Year!

Nicolas is the Primary Music Coordinator at Lighthouse Christian College (LCC) in Victoria, where his dedication and passion have been instrumental in building a music program from the ground up—often with limited resources and minimal executive support.

Nicolas was nominated by Laura Neilson, a friend and former colleague, who highlighted his relentless commitment to his students and his determination to grow a strong music culture at LCC.

In addition to teaching primary classroom music across multiple grades, he conducts the choir, leads an Orff ensemble, co-conducts the junior string ensemble, runs guitar lessons, and serves as Musical Director for the senior school production. His weekends are often spent attending professional development workshops to further hone his skills.

Laura’s nomination also shed light on the advocacy challenges Nicolas has faced. Despite an executive team that supports music in theory but provides little practical backing, he has worked alongside the Head of Music to establish the school’s first-ever Year 5 concert band program and host LCC’s inaugural music concert in 2024—a massive milestone that was met with overwhelming support from parents.

We had the chance to hear from Nicolas about his journey in music education and what this award means to him.

1. How did you feel when you received the news that you had won?

"I was rather surprised as I did not know I was nominated—but also honoured!"

2. What is a career highlight for you as a music teacher?

"This year, I was made Primary Music Coordinator at Lighthouse Christian College. It has come with a ton of extra work, but the faith my school has in a younger teacher to lead the primary program is really humbling."

3. Tell us about a moment that you had to advocate for music learning.

"We had to fight really hard last year to start a compulsory Year 5 concert band program. We are passionate about giving students the opportunity to take home an instrument and develop their skills. It is such a joy to see students go from not knowing how to put a flute together to playing as part of a concert band."

4. How do you think this professional development will enhance your teaching career?

"There are so many benefits from music education; however, I do not feel I have had the time to look into all of them. Having professional development around music advocacy would be helpful to be equipped for the continued advocacy I will have to do in my career."

5. What’s one piece of advice you have for other early-career music teachers out there?

"I think something that has been a game changer in my music teaching has been doing levels in both Orff and Kodály pedagogies. The freedom of Orff and the structure of Kodály can seem incompatible to some, but I have found that combining both has made each lesson both musically rich and fun at the same time."

Celebrating Nicolas’s Impact

Nicolas’s story is a testament to the power of passionate, dedicated educators who push forward even when faced with challenges. Thanks to his work, LCC’s music program is not just growing but thriving, and his efforts in advocacy, leadership, and professional development will undoubtedly shape many students' futures.

A huge thank you to Laura Neilson for nominating Nicolas and for recognizing the value of his work. It’s inspiring to see music teachers lifting each other up and ensuring their contributions don’t go unnoticed.

Congratulations, Nicolas! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next. 🎶✨