May 8, 2025 - At Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (CCA), music class is more than notes on a page—it’s a launchpad for confidence, creativity, and growth. At the center of that transformation is Neshawn Calloway, a dynamic music educator whose classroom is equal parts rehearsal space and life studio.
Calloway’s career spans nearly three decades, and yet she still approaches each day with the curiosity of a student and the heart of a mentor. “When you reach a place where you think you have nothing left to learn, you are in a dangerous place.”
Her students know this isn’t just talk. As the vocal music director, Calloway leads six vocal ensembles that consistently earn superior ratings at regional, state, and international festivals. Her students have performed in cities like New York, Chicago, Orlando, and even as far as Hamm, Germany—experiences she intentionally curates to broaden their world and deepen their understanding of music as a global language. From classical to contemporary, she ensures they are exposed to all genres and real-world performance settings.
Calloway earned her Bachelor of Music with a concentration in choral music from the University of Memphis. She went on to receive her master’s in music education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she studied under the renowned composer Roland Carter—an experience that helped shape her artistic and educational vision.
But perhaps her most defining quality is how she uses music to build people, not just performances. Calloway’s charisma, joy, and unwavering belief in her students are as present as the piano in her classroom. She teaches them to use their voices—not just to sing, but to speak up, show up, and stand tall in a world that doesn’t always make that easy.
That heart-centered excellence has not gone unnoticed.
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, we are proud to share that Calloway has been selected—once again—as a 2025 CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence. She first received this national honor in 2020, and now joins a select group of educators being recognized a second time for continued impact in and outside the classroom.
In the words of the CMA Foundation:
“Out of an incredibly competitive group, Ms. Calloway stood out – a true testament to her talent and impact.”
Whether she’s conducting major works with orchestra, directing local theater, or building future leaders in her classroom, Neshawn Calloway is a force. Her legacy is one of excellence, joy, humility, and lifelong learning—and every student who walks through her door carries a piece of that legacy forward.