Chad Smith, band director and music appreciation teacher at Chaminade High School in West Hills, was honored as an "Unsung Hero" during Hollywood Bowl's Opening Night June 24. Chaminade senior David Gluvna wrote the winning essay about Smith, selected from hundreds of nomination essays submitted to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.

Each year, students are asked to write about teachers who have used the power of music to inspire and instruct them in the classroom. "Mr. Smith made learning about music interesting and fun. He opened the door to a whole new world that I never knew existed," said Gluvna. Both student and teacher were introduced during the "Music Matters" portion of Hollywood Bowl's opening night program.