Recipient And Finalists To Receive Cash Honorariums, With Generous Support And Resources Provided By The GRAMMY Museum®'s Education Champions Converse, Disney Performing Arts,
Ford Motor Company Fund, And Journeys
WHO: A total of 197 music teachers from 187 cities across 45 states plus Washington, D.C., have been announced as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Museum®. In total, more than 2,300 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states. Nominations for the 2019 Music Educator Award are now open at www.grammymusicteacher.com.
WHAT: The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college, public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. A joint partnership and presentation of the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum, the recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY® Week 2018.
The award is open to current U.S. music teachers, and anyone can nominate a teacher—students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. Teachers are also able to nominate themselves, and nominated teachers are notified and invited to fill out an application.
Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists and recognized for their remarkable impact on students' lives. The fifth annual honoree will be flown to New York to attend the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards and a range of GRAMMY Week events. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants.
Fifteen semifinalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants. The matching grants provided to the schools are made possible by the generosity and support of the GRAMMY Museum’s Education Champions Converse, Disney Performing Arts, Ford Motor Company Fund, and Journeys. In addition, the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, NAMM Foundation, and National Education Association support this program through outreach to their constituencies.
WHEN: Quarterfinalists have been announced and are listed below. The semifinalists will be announced in September. For more information, please visit www.grammymusicteacher.com.
-more-
2018 Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists, Page 2
|
Name |
School Name |
City |
State |
|
Eric Allen |
Western Middle School for the Arts |
Louisville |
Ky. |
|
Anthony Allmond |
Kaiser High School |
Fontana |
Calif. |
|
Corey Ames |
Deer Path Middle School |
Lake Forest |
Ill. |
|
Bonnie Anderson |
Coronado Village Elementary |
Universal City |
Texas |
|
Victor Anderson |
Yorkville High School |
Yorkville |
Ill. |
|
Pamela Andrews |
Station Camp Elementary |
Gallatin |
Tenn. |
|
Stratos Argyriou |
American Heritage School Plantation |
Plantation |
Fla. |
|
David Bachart |
New Hope-Solebury High School |
New Hope |
Pa. |
|
Lynn Baker |
University of Denver, Lamont School of Music |
Denver |
Colo. |
|
Jacob Bartlett |
Peru State College |
Peru |
Neb. |
|
James Beaumier |
Hartsville High School |
Hartsville |
S.C. |
|
Shawna Beeler |
Vista Ridge High School |
Colorado Springs |
Colo. |
|
Jeff Bellgardt |
Mt. Enterprise High School |
Mt. Enterprise |
Texas |
|
Andrew Bennett |
Fredonia Central School District |
Fredonia |
N.Y. |
|
Drew Benware |
Saranac Lake High School |
Saranac Lake |
N.Y. |
|
Shane Bonney |
West Canada Valley Central School District |
Newport |
N.Y. |
|
Lesley Bossert |
Parkrose High School |
Portland |
Ore. |
|
Jennifer Bourbonais |
Overpark Elementary School |
Olive Branch |
Miss. |
|
Andrew Bower |
Dolores T. Aaron Academy |
New Orleans |
La. |
|
JoAnn Bressler |
Morley Nelson Elementary |
Boise |
Idaho |
|
Scott Brown |
Dickerson Middle School |
Marietta |
Ga. |
|
Anthony Cao |
Madison West High School |
Madison |
Wis. |
|
Matt Carraher |
Central Dauphin High School |
Harrisburg |
Pa. |
|
Travis Coakley |
Biloxi High School |
Biloxi |
Miss. |
|
Connie Coleman |
Bixby High School |
Bixby |
Okla. |
|
Mark Collins |
John S. Battle High School |
Bristol |
Va. |
|
Melanie Cometa |
Grasso Technical High School |
Groton |
Conn. |
|
Lisa Corriveau |
Mansfield Middle School |
Storrs |
Conn. |
|
Curtis Crone |
Red Lion Area Senior High School |
Red Lion |
Pa. |
|
Kevin Croxton |
Parkview Elementary School |
Van Buren |
Ark. |
|
Charles Cushinery |
Ed W. Clark High School |
Las Vegas |
Nev. |
|
Jim Daughters |
Twenhofel Middle School |
Independence |
Ky. |
|
Troy Davis |
Aragon High School |
San Mateo |
Calif. |
|
Victor de los Santos |
Santa Ana High School |
Santa Ana |
Calif. |
|
Brittany DeLaVergne |
Mineral Wells Junior High |
Mineral Wells |
Texas |
|
Jamal Dickerson |
Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy |
Camden |
N.J. |
|
Joe Donnelly |
Jackson Creek Middle School |
Bloomington |
Ind. |
|
Vin Downes |
Bayonne High School |
Bayonne |
N.J. |
|
Michelle Droe |
Lincoln Elementary |
Cedar Falls |
Iowa |
|
Lee Duke |
Floral Park Memorial High School |
Floral Park |
N.Y. |
|
Amanda Ellerbe |
St. Andrew's School |
Richmond |
Va. |
|
Teresa Elliott |
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School |
Lexington |
Ky. |
|
Julie Ely |
Stone Ridge Elementary |
Yukon |
Okla. |
|
-more-
2018 Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists, Page 3
|
|||
|
Thomas Engel |
Calhoun Community College |
Decatur |
Ala. |
|
Gabriel Fielder |
Leesburg High School |
Leesburg |
Fla. |
|
Christian Fletcher |
American College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts |
New York |
N.Y. |
|
Jay Forrest |
Clover High School |
Clover |
S.C. |
|
Michelle Frank |
Franklin Learning Center |
Philadelphia |
Pa. |
|
Taylor Franklin |
Northview Academy |
Kodak |
Tenn. |
|
Neil Freebern |
Burr and Burton Academy |
Manchester |
Vt. |
|
Curtis Gaesser |
Folsom High School |
Folsom |
Calif. |
|
Melodie Galloway |
University of North Carolina—Asheville |
Asheville |
N.C. |
|
Michael Gaylord |
Rancho Mirage High School |
Rancho Mirage |
Calif. |
|
Dominic Gischia |
Johnson Creek Middle/High School |
Johnson Creek |
Wis. |
|
Vivian Gonzalez |
South Miami K-8 Center |
Miami |
Fla. |
|
Guy Gregg |
Oak Creek High School |
Oak Creek |
Wis. |
|
Jack Gremli |
Nanuet High School |
Nanuet |
N.Y. |
|
Gary Gribble |
Alan C. Pope High School |
Marietta |
Ga. |
|
Eric Hankey |
Bishop Montgomery High School |
Torrance |
Calif. |
|
Richard Harris |
Islip High School |
Islip |
N.Y. |
|
Daniel Harvey |
Seminole Ridge Community High School |
Loxahatchee |
Fla. |
|
Sheryl Hauk |
West Bloomfield High School |
West Bloomfield Township |
Mich. |
|
Jamie Hawkins |
Southwood Academy of the Arts |
Anderson |
S.C. |
|
Kristen Hill |
St. Andrew's Country Day School |
Kenmore |
N.Y. |
|
Kyle Hill |
Pearl River Community College |
Poplarville |
Miss. |
|
Peter Holsberg |
The Berkeley Carroll School |
Brooklyn |
N.Y. |
|
Matthew Howe |
Cathedral City High School |
Cathedral City |
Calif. |
|
Sara K Hugley |
Grenada Upper Elementary School |
Grenada |
Miss. |
|
Mitchell Hutchings |
Greatbatch School of Music |
Houghton |
N.Y. |
|
Kathryn Ingerson |
Thousand Islands High School |
Clayton |
N.Y. |
|
Ralph Jackson |
Bridle Path Elementary School |
Lansdale |
Pa. |
|
Brandi Jason |
Liberty High School |
Eldersburg |
Md. |
|
Jack Jean |
Whitewater High School |
Fayetteville |
Ga. |
|
Christina Jenkins |
Idaho Arts Charter School |
Nampa |
Idaho |
|
Jamar Jenkins |
Coupeville High School |
Coupeville |
Wash. |
|
Luke Johnson |
Victoria Grade School |
Victoria |
Kan. |
|
Nathan Johnston |
Basha High School |
Chandler |
Ariz. |
|
Seth Jones |
Spring-Ford High School |
Royersford |
Pa. |
|
Aaron Jordan |
Liberty Elementary |
Omaha |
Neb. |
|
Katie Kardell |
Spencer High School |
Spencer |
Iowa |
|
Paul Kay |
Mirman School |
Los Angeles |
Calif. |
|
Russ Kellogg |
Charles M. Russell High School |
Great Falls |
Mont. |
|
Janet Kirsten |
William Lehman Elementary |
Miami |
Fla. |
|
Lou Kitchner |
Bedford Middle School |
Westport |
Conn. |
|
Aaron Kohen |
Calabasas High School |
Calabasas |
Calif. |
|
Kyle Kubicki |
Norwood Public School |
Norwood |
N.J. |
|
Rachel Lake |
Ilwaco High School |
Ilwaco |
Wash. |
|
-more-
2018 Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists , Page 4
|
|||
|
Christina Latham |
Santa Cruz High School |
Santa Cruz |
Calif. |
|
Mark Laughlin |
Georgia Southwestern State University |
Americus |
Ga. |
|
Matt Laura |
Fordson High School |
Dearborn |
Mich. |
|
Andrew Lesser |
Wilbur Watts Intermediate School |
Burlington |
N.J. |
|
Robert Long |
Van Meter Community School |
Van Meter |
Iowa |
|
Lindsey Lorefice |
Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School |
Cliffwood |
N.J. |
|
David Lown |
Carroll Senior High School |
Southlake |
Texas |
|
Peter Manzi |
Carlsbad High School |
Carlsbad |
Calif. |
|
Kate Margrave |
Pine Creek High School |
Colorado Springs |
Colo. |
|
Dean Marino |
West Port High School |
Ocala |
Fla. |
|
Kimberly Martin-Boyd |
Normal West High School |
Normal |
Ill. |
|
Jennifer Maxwell |
Nantucket Music Center |
Nantucket |
Mass. |
|
Rachel Maxwell |
Traughber Junior High School |
Oswego |
Ill. |
|
Richard Maxwell |
Arcadia High School |
Phoenix |
Ariz. |
|
Ronald McFadden |
Southwest Academy Magnet School for Science & Engineering |
Baltimore |
Md. |
|
Torey Mengoni |
St. Clare / St. Paul |
Scranton |
Pa. |
|
Cava Lee Menzies |
Oakland School for the Arts |
Oakland |
Calif. |
|
Anthony Merlino |
Albright College |
Reading |
Pa. |
|
David Merrill |
Longmont High School |
Longmont |
Colo. |
|
Brian Messier |
Belchertown High School |
Belchertown |
Mass. |
|
Sherri Miller |
Dale County High School |
Midland City |
Ala. |
|
Beth Moore |
Central Regional Middle School |
Bayville |
N.J. |
|
Charles Morgan |
Joliet Junior College |
Joliet |
Ill. |
|
Jocelyn Morrow |
Sage Ridge School |
Reno |
Nev. |
|
John Mortensen |
Cedarville University |
Cedarville |
Ohio |
|
Nathan De'Shon Myers |
Booker T. Washington HSPVA |
Dallas |
Texas |
|
Adam Nobile |
Big Spring High School |
Newville |
Pa. |
|
Timothy O'Brien |
Gila Ridge High School |
Yuma |
Ariz. |
|
Greg Odom |
Roswell High School |
Roswell |
N.M. |
|
Brennan Orie |
Amity Middle School Bethany |
Bethany |
Conn. |
|
Dee Dee Paakkari |
John Marshall High School |
Los Angeles |
Calif. |
|
Robert Palmer |
Gables Elementary School |
Neptune |
N.J. |
|
Stephen Panoff |
Sandalwood High School |
Jacksonville |
Fla. |
|
Matthew Paterno |
Wayne Hills High School/William Paterson University |
Wayne |
N.J. |
|
Henry Pearlberg |
Strath Haven Middle School |
Wallingford |
Pa. |
|
Michael Pelavin |
Kadima Day School |
West Hills |
Calif. |
|
Andrew Perkins |
Fenton High School |
Fenton |
Mich. |
|
Jill Phillips |
Appleton Elementary School |
Grand Junction |
Colo. |
|
Elizabeth Pilkington |
Bondurant-Farrar Middle School |
Bondurant |
Iowa |
|
Anthony Pinelli, Jr. |
Paul D. Schreiber High School |
Port Washington |
N.Y. |
|
Stacey Place |
Metcalf Elementary School |
Exeter |
R.I. |
|
Derek Polischuk |
Michigan State University |
East Lansing |
Mich. |
|
-more-
2018 Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists , Page 5
|
|||
|
Anthony Pollera |
RC Murphy Junior High School |
Stony Brook |
N.Y. |
|
Michael Raiber |
Oklahoma City University |
Oklahoma City |
Okla. |
|
Michael Rais |
Frost Middle School |
Livonia |
Mich. |
|
Jordan Rakita |
Heritage Academy |
Mesa |
Ariz. |
|
Amy Reber |
Lake Oconee Academy |
Greensboro |
Ga. |
|
Jeffery Redding |
West Orange High School |
Winter Garden |
Fla. |
|
Ulli Reiner |
Bernardo Heights Middle School |
San Diego |
Calif. |
|
Aaron Rex |
Jackson High School |
Jackson |
Ohio |
|
David Reynolds Jr |
Vienna Elementary School |
Vienna |
Va. |
|
David Rhen |
Towson High School |
Towson |
Md. |
|
Sandra Rosen |
Manitou Springs Middle School |
Manitou Springs |
Colo. |
|
Heather Rosner |
George Mason Elementary School |
Alexandria |
Va. |
|
Caleb Ruppe |
Mayo Elementary School |
Cowpens |
S.C. |
|
Markeise Russell |
Nicholas Senn High School |
Chicago |
Ill. |
|
Melissa Salguero |
P.S.48 Joseph R. Drake |
Bronx |
N.Y. |
|
Peter Sampson |
Whiteland Community High School |
Whiteland |
Ind. |
|
Daniel Sapp Jr |
James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils |
Augusta |
Ga. |
|
Wendy Sarnoff |
Venice High School |
Venice |
Calif. |
|
Mindy Scheierman |
Millburn High School |
Millburn |
N.J. |
|
Steve Scherer |
Geneseo High School |
Geneseo |
Ill. |
|
Dr. Kathy Scherler |
Oklahoma Baptist University |
Shawnee |
Okla. |
|
Scott Schleuter |
Perrysburg High School |
Perrysburg |
Ohio |
|
Bonnie Scholz |
Pius XI High School |
Milwaukee |
Wis. |
|
Joshua Shaw |
Coronado High School |
Lubbock |
Texas |
|
James Sheffer |
Medford Memorial Middle School |
Medford |
N.J. |
|
Kimberly Shimpo |
North Mesquite High School |
Mesquite |
Texas |
|
Karl Siewertsen |
Plainedge Middle School |
Bethpage |
N.Y. |
|
Robert Skrocki |
Monadnock Regional High School |
Swanzey |
N.H. |
|
Nathan Sletten |
Earlham Community School District |
Earlham |
Iowa |
|
Holly Smith |
Ascension Catholic School |
Louisville |
Ky. |
|
Robert W. Smith |
Troy University |
Troy |
Ala. |
|
Theodora Sotiropoulos |
Northern Highlands Regional High School |
Allendale |
N.J. |
|
Laura Steigerwald McCoy |
St. Joseph Central Elementary School |
Fort Wayne |
Ind. |
|
Amy J. Steiner |
Hutchinson Central Technical High School |
Buffalo |
N.Y. |
|
Scott Stewart |
The Westminster Schools |
Atlanta |
Ga. |
|
Vicky Stockton |
N.Y. State School for the Deaf |
Rome |
N.Y. |
|
Ronald Stowell |
Will Rogers Middle School |
Miami |
Okla. |
|
Kevin Michael Sullivan |
Special Music School- High School |
New York |
N.Y. |
|
Michelle Swanson |
University of Northern Iowa |
Cedar Falls |
Iowa |
|
Amey Szanto |
Rose Garden Elementary |
Universal City |
Texas |
|
Theresa Thomasulo |
The Park School of Buffalo |
Buffalo |
N.Y. |
|
Brian Thompson |
Richfield High School |
Richfield |
Utah |
|
Daryl Timmer |
Woodbury High School |
Woodbury |
Minn. |
|
Matthew Trevino |
Roan Forest Elementary |
San Antonio |
Texas |
|
-more-
2018 Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists, Page 6
|
|||
|
George Tullos |
Longfellow Middle School |
San Antonio |
Texas |
|
Jose Valenzuela |
Weslaco High School |
Weslaco |
Texas |
|
Joel Vanderheyden |
Jefferson College |
Hillsboro |
Mo. |
|
Philip Ventre |
Choate Rosemary Hall |
Wallingford |
Conn. |
|
Vivian Ventura |
Arvida Middle School |
Miami |
Fla. |
|
Lauren Visel |
Orange County High School |
Orange |
Va. |
|
Ida Warner |
Eldersburg Elementary School |
Sykesville |
Md. |
|
Davida Washer |
Colin Powell Elementary |
El Paso |
Texas |
|
Kyle Weary |
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts |
Hagerstown |
Md. |
|
Shawn Weis |
Natrona County High School |
Casper |
Wyo. |
|
Robert West |
Ed W. Clark High School |
Las Vegas |
Nev. |
|
Tyler Wigglesworth |
West Covina High School |
West Covina |
Calif. |
|
Diana Wightman |
Liberty Middle School |
Newark |
Ohio |
|
Alexander Wilga |
Davenport Central High School |
Davenport |
Iowa |
|
Janeen Wilkins |
East Anchorage High School |
Anchorage |
Alaska |
|
Teresa Williams |
Cook High School |
Adel |
Ga. |
|
Stephanie Williamson |
Williamsburg High School |
Williamsburg |
Iowa |
|
Ashley Willits |
Notre Dame High School Belmont |
Belmont |
Calif. |
|
Kelly Winovich |
Northgate Middle/Senior High School |
Pittsburgh |
Pa. |
|
Mary Woodward |
North Vista Elementary School |
Florence |
S.C. |
|
James Yaques |
Palm Beach Central High School |
Wellington |
Fla. |
|
Davey Yarborough |
The Duke Ellington School of the Arts |
Washington |
D.C. |
|
Ben Yoder |
Fall Creek Junior High School |
Fishers |
Ind. |
|
Jamie Young |
Lake Cormorant High School |
Lake Cormorant |
Miss. |
The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards—music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators. For more information about The Recording Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @RecordingAcad on Twitter, "like" Recording Academy / GRAMMYs on Facebook, and join The Recording Academy’s social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube.
Established in 2008 as a partnership between the Recording Academy and AEG, the GRAMMY Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum explores and celebrates all aspects of the art form—from the technology of the recording process to the legends who've made lasting marks on our cultural identity. In 2017, the Museum integrated with its sister organization, the GRAMMY Foundation®, to broaden the reach of its music educational and preservation initiatives. As a unified organization, the GRAMMY Museum fulfills its mission of making music a valued and indelible part of our society through exhibits, education, grants, and public programming.
Converse Inc., based in Boston is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as "America's Original Sports Company"™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including lifestyle men's, women's and children's footwear, apparel and accessories and is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries. For more information, visit Media.Converse.com and follow @converse.
-more-
2018 Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists, Page 7
Disney Performing Arts unlocks student potential and helps young people make their own dreams come true—whether it's performing in front of an international audience of thousands at Disney theme parks and resorts or honing their craft in enriching workshops and clinics taught by entertainment professionals. Every year, thousands of vocal, instrumental, and other ensembles travel from around the world to participate in Disney Performing Arts programs at the Disneyland Resort in Southern Calif. and the Walt Disney World Resort in Fla. Disney delivers workshops and performance opportunities that enrich, inspire and often lead to life-changing personal achievement.
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community and global partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 65 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life is free, interactive, hands-on safety training focused on skill development and driving techniques, while addressing inexperience, distractions and impaired driving. Innovation in education is encouraged through Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning and other inspiring programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps
enlists more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to work on local projects that strengthen their communities and improve people's lives in more than 40 countries around the world. For more information, visit community.ford.com.
Journeys is a leader in the teen specialty retail scene, with more than 800 stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Journeys uses fashion savvy and merchandising science to keep in step with the fast-paced footwear and accessories market for 13- to 22-year-old guys and girls. Journeys offers a wide variety of trendy, relevant brands that cater to teens that seek the hottest, new styles. However, the Journeys store is more than a retail environment—it's an extension of the teen lifestyle. From the plasma TVs playing exclusive content and the latest music videos, to the visual merchandising strategy and promotions, to the employees whose image and style reflect the customers' lifestyle and attitude. In addition to retail stores, Journeys reaches its customers through journeys.com, catalogs, social media, and grass-roots events like the Warped Tour, Alternative Press Music Awards, and national club-level music tours in the spring and fall seasons. Journeys—An Attitude You Can Wear! Journeys is a division of Genesco Inc.
Media Contact:
Christina Cassidy/Recording Academy/310.581.8670/christina.cassidy@grammy.com
Program Contact:
Derek Spencer/GRAMMY Museum/310.581.1260/derek.spencer@grammy.com
# # #
