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January 27, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Steve Schmidt is one of five people in the country to receive this year's Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation Award, named after the music teacher who inspired the hit movie.
ABC7's Eric Horng traveled to Mooseheart School, near Aurora, to see this award-winning conductor at work.
For Schmidt, it's about more than just the music. "The skills that they're going to need in this room to succeed absolutely transfer to every walk of life," Schmidt said.
For more than two decades, Schmidt has been the band director at Mooseheart School. And, last week at a concert, he received the surprise of a lifetime.
Schmidt is one of only five teachers nationwide receiving the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation award, which honors those who, like the character in the movie, teach lessons beyond the classroom.