Mr. Stephen C. Massey served as the Music Director and Band Director from 1980 until his retirement in 2017. Under his direction, the Foxborough Music Department developed into one of the premiere public school music programs in the United States. The FHS Music ensembles performed in concerts, festivals, and tours while commissioning over 25 new pieces. The curriculum was based on studying masterworks of the highest quality. Guest Artists and Composers became a cornerstone of the program. Student leadership courses helped develop a very distinctive “culture of excellence.”
The following two quotes sum up the philosophy of the culture:
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
“A leader is one who does what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, whether they want to do it or not” –Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
Vision: Honoring a legacy, sustaining a culture of excellence in perpetuity
Our vision is to sustain a scholarship fund that will honor the legacy of Mr. Massey’s musical direction in the Foxborough Public Schools in perpetuity. The scholarship awards will mirror the ideals and values he instilled in both students and faculty for 46 years. They will inspire lifelong application of the cornerstones of his teaching: leadership, mentorship, hard work and personal integrity.
The Fund will grow and deepen the culture of excellence inspired by Mr. Massey’s leadership through a dual investment in significant annual scholarships for both students and faculty involved in the Foxborough Public Schools music program. The scholarships are intended to encourage:
- Students to espouse this culture of excellence within their lives and future careers by supporting their pursuit of a four-year postsecondary education. Inspire undergraduates to follow their example.
- Faculty to further enhance the high-quality educational experience for music students by supporting their pursuit of special world-class development opportunities and achievement of higher professional standards. Incent music educators to take a risk, stretch themselves beyond their current professional development levels and use the experience to deepen their impact within the Foxboro Music Program.
The Stephen C. Massey Student Scholarship has been created to acknowledge Foxborough High School music students who have exhibited the qualifications of leadership, scholarship, musicianship, and mentorship. The successful candidate would reflect the culture of excellence that has been established in the Foxborough High School Music Department under the direction of Stephen C. Massey. The purpose of the scholarship is to acknowledge students who have exhibited these qualities in their everyday life as demonstrated through selfless giving, inspiration, dedication, and hard work.
To learn more about the Student Scholarship or to apply, please click here
The Stephen C Massey Faculty Scholarship has been created to foster continued growth and development for the Foxborough Public Schools Music Faculty. We believe that when teachers become lifelong learners, they also set high standards for both their students and the overall culture of the music program. The scholarship was established for FPS faculty to take advantage of special artistic development opportunities over and above what is provided by the school system.
To learn more about the Faculty Scholarship or to apply, please click here