Barry Manilow shines the spotlight on Riverton High teacher during Maverick Center performance

RIVERTON, Utah (ABC4) — Riverton High School’s music program is now the ‘hottest spot north of Havana.’

On July 14, world-renowned musician Barry Manilow met one-on-one with Riverton High School’s Performing Arts Director, Jason Weimer, before his Maverick Center performance.

“My parents listened to a lot of classic rock… some of your stuff for sure,” Weimer told Manilow shortly before the performance.

Weimer was presented with the Barry Manilow Music Teacher Award for the state of Utah. The award included a $10,000 prize.

During the meeting, Manilow asked Weimer about his love for music and what inspired him to teach music. Weimer told Manilow he first fell in love with music while playing the clarinet in sixth grade.

“You know, I played clarinet… I was awful at it,” Manilow responded.

“I think that the performing arts, especially, is great at teaching kids to work as part of a team and working towards a mutual goal that benefits everybody,” Weimer said in an interview following the meet-up.

Well-known for hit songs like “Copacabana,” “Mandy,” and “Can’t Smile Without You,” Manilow is a Grammy award-winning musician. Manilow won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Copacabana (At the Copa)” in 1978. Manilow also performed “Mandy” and “Could It Be Magic” at the 18th GRAMMY Awards in 1976.

The award was made possible through the Barry Manilow Music Project, which aims to uplift music programs across the country.