Remembering Jackie in Song

It was cold and rainy outside on October 14 but it was beautiful inside at Maryland Elementary for the debut of the song created to remember former Maryland Elementary music teacher Jackie Battieger. Jackie, who passed away unexpectedly on July 5, 2023, had a lifelong love of music and brought that love to thousands of Maryland students over her 21 years as a Maryland Elementary educator.

During the October 14th Mallard Meet-Up,  Nashville songwriters Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz gave a short concert and then performed the acoustic version of the commissioned piece in memory of Jackie, The Beautiful Dream with accompaniment from music teacher Diane Paul and Maryland students.

The choral version of the song, which will debut at the February and March school choral concerts, is currently with a choral arranger. This version, which will be published for choirs everywhere to sing, encourages all of us to keep "the beautiful dream" of music in our lives. The commission of the piece was made possible because of a 2023 Foundation Idea Grant.