NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville Public Schools has received four honors in the 47th Annual Telly Awards for a collection of student-centered music and documentary productions.
District officials said the awards recognize films highlighting student-led music initiatives and storytelling projects created through Metro Nashville Public Schools’ arts programs.
The district’s winning entries included:
- Gold Award, Film Shorts: General Documentary — “Every Student Known: The Making of an Anthem”
- Silver Award, General: Education & Discovery — “Every Student Known: The Making of an Anthem”
- Silver Award, Non-Broadcast: General Children — “This Is Where We Belong”
- Bronze Award, Branded Content: General Music Video — “I Belong Music Video (Extended Intro)”
Superintendent Adrienne Battle praised the achievement, noting students have now earned both a Midsouth Emmy and four Telly Awards.
“This is what investing in the arts looks like,” Battle said. “It looks like joy, it looks like belonging, and it looks like our students shining on a national stage.”
District officials said the award-winning productions were developed through the district’s Songwriting Summit program, where students collaborate with Nashville music industry professionals and educators to write and record original music at East Iris Studios.
The documentary “Every Student Known: The Making of an Anthem” follows the creation of the featured track from “I Believe I Belong,” a five-song EP written and performed by MNPS students.
Released in August 2025, the EP includes the songs “I Believe,” “I Belong,” “This Is Where We Belong,” “Cada Estudiante Valorado,” and “Every Student Known.”
Officials said the documentary previously received a Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards honor for storytelling and production.
The district also recently released “Music City High: A Celebration of the Arts in Nashville Public Schools,” a three-part documentary series produced by The Moving Picture Boys and sponsored by the CMA Foundation and Notes for Education.
Franklin Willis said the awards reflect the talent of students and dedication of music educators throughout the district.
The Telly Awards receives more than 13,000 entries annually and recognizes excellence in video and television production across the industry.
