Biddeford Middle School band director Amy Delorge has been named Music Educator of the Year by Music & Arts, a nationwide retailer of band and orchestra equipment.

Delorge, who has taught at Biddeford Middle School for 21 years, was among 2,700 instructors considered for the national honor, which was announced Dec. 15 at the Chicago Midwest International Band Clinic.

The award recognizes music teachers for their outstanding achievement in music education.

Delorge said she wants to use music to teach her students compassion and empathy. This spring the school’s 120 band students will learn, through music, about the Japanese internment camps in the United States during World War II.

“As teachers, we cannot always impact our students in our given subject area in the way we would like, but often a teacher comes along and connects with students in a way that is life-changing,” said Vicki Lee, a colleague of Delorge at Biddeford Middle School. “Amy is that type of teacher.”

In addition to teaching music, Delorge directs two concert bands and a marching band.