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2023 Music Educator Award: 207 Quarterfinalists Announced
A total of 207 music teachers from 180 cities have been announced as quarterfinalists for the 2023 Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum.
A total of 207 music teachers from 180 cities have been announced as quarterfinalists for the 2023 Music Educator Award, a joint partnership and presentation of the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. In total, nearly 1,500 initial nominations were submitted. In addition to the quarterfinalists, 125 legacy applicants from 2022 will also be eligible to win the award this year. The semifinalists will be announced in September.
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. The recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY Week 2023, which takes place ahead of the 2023 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 65th GRAMMY Awards.
Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists and recognized for their remarkable impact on students' lives. The 10th annual honoree will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 65th 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.
The 2023 GRAMMY nominations are officially here. See the complete list of nominees across all 91 GRAMMY categories.
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 Champion, Ford Motor Company Fund. 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.
The Music Educator 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.
Learn more about the Music Educator Award.
See the full list of the 2023 Music Educator Award quarterfinalists below:
QUARTERFINALISTS
Name | School | City | State | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Phil Aguglia | Kenmore East High School | Tonawanda | New York | |
John Aguilar | Robert Eagle Staff Middle School | Seattle | Washington | |
Heather Akers | Central Middle School | Dover | Delaware | |
Calandria Allen | West Feliciana Middle School | Saint Francisville | Louisiana | |
Eric Allen | Western Middle School for the Arts | Louisville | Kentucky | |
Abigail Alwin | Clague Middle School | Ann Arbor | Michigan | |
David Amos | Heritage Middle School | Painesville | Ohio | |
Bonnie Anderson | Miller’s Point Elementary School | Converse | Texas | |
Justin Antos | Dwight D. Eisenhower High School | Blue Island | Illinois | |
Rich Armstrong | Waxahachie High School | Waxahachie | Texas | |
Luke Aumann | Appleton North High School | Appleton | Wisconsin | |
Elizabeth Baker | Ilima Intermediate School | Ewa Beach | Hawaii | |
William Bares | UNC Asheville | Asheville | North Carolina | |
Andre Barnes | Science Park High School | Newark | New Jersey | |
Conesha Washington-Barron | Lanier High School | Jackson | Mississippi | |
Lyndra Bastian | Woodstock High School | Woodstock | Illinois | |
William Bennett | Cane Bay High School | Summerville | South Carolina | |
Randell Bertsche | Conner Middle School | Hebron | Kentucky | |
Heather Bice | Ridgeview High School | Orange Park | Florida | |
Mario Boccali | Cabrillo Middle School | Ventura | California | |
Cherie Bowe | Pascagoula High School | Pascagoula | Mississippi | |
Charlie Bradberry | Iowa Park High School | Iowa Park | Texas | |
Justin Britt | Kingston Public Schools | Kingston | Oklahoma | |
William Brown | FJ Turner High School | Beloit | Wisconsin | |
Ryan Bulgarelli | Loyalsock Township High School | Williamsport | Pennsylvania | |
Shantavia Burchette | East Side High School | Newark | New Jersey | |
John Burn | Homestead High School | Cupertino | California | |
Alexander Busby | Oviedo High School | Oviedo | Florida | |
Aaron Bush | Foxborough High School | Foxborough | Massachusetts | |
Meg Byrne | Pleasant Valley High School | Bettendorf | Iowa | |
Leonard Al Campbell Jr. | Westbury High School | Houston | Texas | |
Brett Carroll | Burbank High School | Burbank | California | |
Elizabeth Carter | Snowden School | Memphis | Tennessee | |
Philip Carter | O'Fallon Township High School | O'Fallon | Illinois | |
Francis Cathlina | University of Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | |
Amberleigh Cellak | Starbuck World IB Middle School | Racine | Wisconsin | |
Tiffany Chiang | Mark Twain I.S. 239 | Brooklyn | New York | |
Ernesta Chicklowski | Roosevelt Elementary | Tampa | Florida | |
Michael Coelho | Ipswich High School | Ipswich | Massachusetts | |
Leah VanDoran Cohen | Ewa Makai Middle School | Ewa Beach | Hawaii | |
Cory Joy Craig | Benton Intermediate School | Benton | Louisiana | |
Christina Crivelli | South Fayette Intermediate School | McDonald | Pennsylvania | |
Christine Cumberledge | Central Junior High School | Euless | Texas | |
Austin Cunningham | KIPP Austin Brave High School | Austin | Texas | |
Pamela Dawson | DeSoto High School | DeSoto | Texas | |
Kelly DeHaan | Mountain Ridge High School | Herriman | Utah | |
Maria Del Valle Brin | The Equity Project Charter School | New York | New York | |
Heather Dipasquale | Todd County Middle School | Elkton | Kentucky | |
Antoine Dolberry | P.S. 103 Hector Fontanez School | Bronx | New York | |
Jack A. Eaddy, Jr. | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | North Carolina | |
Dominique Eade | New England Conservatory of Music | Boston | Massachusetts | |
Benjamin Easley | Nolensville High School | Nolensville | Tennessee | |
Brandon Elliott | Moorpark College | Moorpark | California | |
Jasmine Faulkner | Polaris Expeditionary Learning School | Fort Collins | Colorado | |
Daniel James Felton | DeLaSalle High School | Minneapolis | Minnesota | |
Nicholas Fernandez | Bentonville High School | Bentonville | Arkansas | |
Kelly Ford | Siena Heights University | Adrian | Michigan | |
Cathryn Fowler | Health Careers High School | San Antonio | Texas | |
Marisa Frank | Nashville Classical Charter School | Nashville | Tennessee | |
Jasmine Fripp | KIPP Nashville Collegiate High School | Nashville | Tennessee | |
Jorge L. Garcia | Elias Herrera Middle School | Laredo | Texas | |
Jacob Garcia | Tennyson Middle School | Waco | Texas | |
Tina Gibson | Jefferson County Traditional Middle School | Louisville | Kentucky | |
Alex Gittelman | Haverford Middle School | Havertown | Pennsylvania | |
Guillermo Gonzalez | James A. Garfield High School | Los Angeles | California | |
John Gordon | Odessa High School | Townsend | Delaware | |
Mansa Gory | Denzel Washington School of the Arts | Mount Vernon | New York | |
Deanna Grandstaff | Cecil Intermediate School | McDonald | Pennsylvania | |
Jessica Gronberg | Hawkes Bluff Elementary | Davie | Florida | |
Melanie Gunn | Whitman Middle School | Seattle | Washington | |
Amanda Hanzlik | Edwin O. Smith High School | Storrs | Connecticut | |
Marvin Haywood | John Ehret High School | Marrero | Louisiana | |
Colette Hebert | Yonkers Public Schools | Yonkers | New York | |
Kristin Howell | Syosset High School | Syosset | New York | |
Emmanuel Hudson | Booker T. Washington High School | Shreveport | Louisiana | |
Karla Hulne | Blair-Taylor Middle & High School | Blair | Wisconsin | |
(Andrea) Dalene Husky | Chandler Traditional Academy-Liberty Campus | Chandler | Arizona | |
Mia Ibrahim | Health Opportunities High School | Bronx | New York | |
Luis Ingels | BASIS Independent Brooklyn | Brooklyn | New York | |
Justin Janer | Pinewood School Middle Campus | Los Altos | California | |
Daryl Jessen | Dakota Valley School | North Sioux City | South Dakota | |
Mary Johnson | Jardine Elementary | Topeka | Kansas | |
De’Evin Johnson | Duncanville High School | Duncanville | Texas | |
Amir Jones | Thomas W. Harvey High School | Painesville | Ohio | |
Jean-Marie Kent | Roosevelt High School | Seattle | Washington | |
Brandon Kiesgen | Perry High School | Gilbert | Arizona | |
Allison Kline | Northwestern Lehigh High School | New Tripoli | Pennsylvania | |
Rod Kosterman | Rockwall-Heath High School | Rockwall | Texas | |
Joshua Krohn | Brent Elementary School | Washington | District of Columbia | |
Sarah Labovitz | Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | Arkansas | |
Eli Lambie | Washington Lands Elementary School | Moundsville | West Virginia | |
J. Alan Landers | Lakenheath High School | Lakenheath | New Jersey | |
David Leach | Pioneer High School | Ann Arbor | Michigan | |
Jeffrey Leager | Central Middle School | Dover | Delaware | |
Heather Leppard | Girls Academic Leadership Academy | Los Angeles | California | |
Hope Lewis | Charles O. Dickerson High School | Trumansburg | New York | |
Angie Liss | Howe High School | Howe | Texas | |
Christopher Little | Jim Hill High School | Jackson | Mississippi | |
Meredith Lord | Burncoat High School | Worcester | Massachusetts | |
Christian Lozano | Canyon Springs High School | Moreno Valley | California | |
Brendon Lucas | Nyack Middle School | Nyack | New York | |
Christian Lucas | Mariners Christian School | Costa Mesa | California | |
Andrew Macaione | Benavides STEAM Academy | Aurora | Illinois | |
Kurtina Cyntel Maholmes | Sykes Elementary School | Jackson | Mississippi | |
Thomas Mann | W. Charles Akins Early College High School | Austin | Texas | |
Jessica Martin | Crosby Park Elementary School | Lawton | Oklahoma | |
Jesus Martinez | Sam Houston High School | Arlington | Texas | |
Alison McCarrey | Romig Middle School | Anchorage | Alaska | |
Angie McDaniel | Forest Creek Elementary | Round Rock | Texas | |
Kevin McDonald | Wellesley High School | Wellesley | Massachusetts | |
Matt McKagan | Lindero Canyon Middle School | Agoura Hills | California | |
Brian McMath | Northwest Guilford High School | Greensboro | North Carolina | |
Phillip McMullen | Silver Creek Central Schools | Silver Creek | New York | |
Tracy Meldrum | Verrado High School | Buckeye | Arizona | |
Xochilt Melendez Munguia | Gainesville Middle School | Gainesville | Virginia | |
A.J. Merlino | Albright College | Reading | Pennsylvania | |
Kris Milby | Greenup County High School | Greenup | Kentucky | |
Jasper Miranda | Coleman ISD | Coleman | Texas | |
Ashleigh Moffit | Gateway Science Academy Middle School | Saint Louis | Missouri | |
Dana Monteiro | Frederick Douglass Academy | New York | New York | |
Shelby Montgomery | George Jenkins High School | Lakeland | Florida | |
David Moore | Inspire Charter Academy | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | |
Marcus Morris | Dorman High School | Roebuck | South Carolina | |
Ryan Moseley | Appoquinimink High School | Middletown | Delaware | |
David Moss | West Hopkins School | Nebo | Kentucky | |
Deborah Muhlenbruck-Fleischer | Barry and June Gunderson Middle School | Las Vegas | Nevada | |
Jenny Neff | The University of the Arts | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | |
Ailisa Newhall | Inglemoor High School | Kenmore | Washington | |
Trevor Nicholas | Senn Arts at Nicholas Senn High School | Chicago | Illinois | |
Vicki Nichols | Grandview Elementary | Grandview | Texas | |
Heather Niederer | Navarrete Elementary | Chandler | Arizona | |
Adam Nobile | Big Spring High School | Newville | Pennsylvania | |
Benjamin Noyes | Hillsboro High School | Hillsboro | Oregon | |
Tanner Oglesby | Bryant High School | Bryant | Arkansas | |
Jeremy Overbeck | Century High School | Bismarck | North Dakota | |
John Pachence | Penn State University, Abington College | Abington | Pennsylvania | |
Donald Edward Padgett | Hartford Conservatory School of Music | Hartford | Connecticut | |
Jennifer Page | Niles North High School | Skokie | Illinois | |
Robert Pate Jr. | L.W. Higgins High School | Marrero | Louisiana | |
Carrie Pawelski | Jefferson Middle School | Jamestown | New York | |
Jordan Peters | Dr. E Alma Flagg School | Newark | New Jersey | |
Sedric Pinkney | O. Henry Middle School | Austin | Texas | |
Brendan Pitts | Berrien High School | Nashville | Georgia | |
Matthew Pitts | Robert JC Rice Elementary School | Gilbert | Arizona | |
Coutney Powers | South Philadelphia High School | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | |
Natalie Pratt | Brentwood High School | Brentwood | Tennessee | |
Harvey G. Price Jr. | Muskogee High School | Muskogee | Oklahoma | |
William Rank | Oak Prairie Junior High School | Lockport | Illinois | |
Brett Rankin | Wilde Lake High School | Columbia | Maryland | |
Annie Ray | Annandale High School | Annandale | Virginia | |
Tracy Resseguie | Staley High School | Kansas City | Missouri | |
Bethany Robinson | Noblesville High School | Noblesville | Indiana | |
Marcos Rodriguez | Avant Garde Academy of Broward | Hollywood | Florida | |
John Ross | Appalachian State University | Boone | North Carolina | |
Nikia Russell | Success Preparatory @ Thurgood Marshall | New Orleans | Louisiana | |
Giovanni Santos | La Sierra University | Riverside | California | |
Mathew Schick | Crescenta Valley High School | La Crescenta | California | |
Kyle Schoeller | Northside Elementary | Rogers | Arkansas | |
Ruth Schwartz | Chugiak High School | Chugiak | Alaska | |
Laura Shapovalov | Walden III Middle School | Racine | Wisconsin | |
Jim Sheffer | Medford Memorial Middle School | Medford | New Jersey | |
Matthew Shephard | Meridian Early College High School | Sanford | Michigan | |
Shahniz Shirazi | Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics | Phoenix | Arizona | |
Katie Silcott | Olentangy Shanahan Middle School | Lewis Center | Ohio | |
Dylan Sims | York Middle School | York | South Carolina | |
Thomas Slater | Chestnut Oaks Middle School | Sumter | South Carolina | |
Michele Slone | Urbana Elementary and Jr. High School | Urbana | Ohio | |
Tony Small | Pallotti Arts Academy | Laurel | Maryland | |
Benjamin Smith | Escalante Middle School | Durango | Colorado | |
Andrew Smith | Charlotte Central School | Charlotte | Vermont | |
Ashleigh Spatz | Burgess Peterson Elementary | Atlanta | Georgia | |
James Spence | Berta Cabaza Middle School | San Benito | Texas | |
Wayne Splettstoeszer | Torrington High School | Torrington | Connecticut | |
David Starnes | Kennesaw Mountain High School | Kennesaw | Georgia | |
Elizabeth Steege | Case High School | Racine | Wisconsin | |
Jonathan Steltzer | Wayne County High School | Jesup | Georgia | |
Lawrence Stoffel | California State University, Northridge | Los Angeles | California | |
Tyler Swick | Robert and Sandy Ellis Elementary | Henderson | Nevada | |
Cami Tedoldi | Foxborough High School | Foxborough | Massachusetts | |
Kylie Teston | Leonardtown High School | Leonardtown | Maryland | |
Timothy Thomas | Basic Academy of International Studies | Henderson | Nevada | |
Kaitlynn Tobias | Lake Asbury Elementary School | Green Cove Springs | Florida | |
Jonathan Todd | Crestdale Middle School | Matthews | North Carolina | |
Michael Tosh | Chapel Hill ISD High School | Mount Pleasant | Texas | |
Matthew Trevino | Roan Forest Elementary | San Antonio | Texas | |
Susan Trost | Gateway Elementary | Conneaut | Ohio | |
Alexis True | Thomas Downey High School | Modesto | California | |
Alice Tsui | New Bridges Elementary | Brooklyn | New York | |
Gregory Urban | Dunedin Highland Middle School | Dunedin | Florida | |
Jon Usher | Hidden Springs Elementary School | Moreno Valley | California | |
Michael Vasquez | Charles L. Kuentz Jr. Elementary | Helotes | Texas | |
Aaron Vogel | Mountain Ridge High School | Glendale | Arizona | |
Derrick Walker | Cedar Hill High School | Cedar Hill | Texas | |
Timothy Wallner | Juan Navarro Early College High School | Austin | Texas | |
Antwuan Walters | Heights High School | Houston | Texas | |
Bryen Warfield | Homestead High School | Fort Wayne | Indiana | |
Sarah Wehmeier Aparicio | Waukesha South High School | Waukesha | Wisconsin | |
Tammy White | Kiser Middle School | Greensboro | North Carolina | |
Christopher White | Hickory Ridge High School | Harrisburg | North Carolina | |
Alexander Wilga | Davenport Central High School | Davenport | Iowa | |
Tyron Williams | New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities IV | Far Rockaway | New York | |
Krista Williams | Chastang-Fournier | Mobile | Alabama | |
Kelly Winovich | Northgate Middle & Senior High School | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | |
Hayley Winslow | Snow Canyon Middle School | St. George | Utah | |
John Woodrome | Permian High School | Odessa | Texas | |
Tammy Yi | Chapman University | Orange | California | |
Ronnie Ziccardi | Avonworth Elementary School | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
LEGACY APPLICANTS
Name | School | City | State |
---|---|---|---|
Keely (O’Hara) Abeln | Parkway South Middle School | Ballwin | Missouri |
Adrian Adams | Richland Northeast High School | Columbia | South Carolina |
Shirene Agahi-Patterson | Denver South High School | Denver | Colorado |
John Aguilar | Robert Eagle Staff Middle School | Seattle | Washington |
David Allinder | Shades Valley High School | Birmingham | Alabama |
Kathryn Ananda-Owens | St. Olaf College | Northfield | Minnesota |
Jeanne Andrews | Pauline Petway Elementary School | Vineland | New Jersey |
Tristianne Asbury | Noble High School | Noble | Oklahoma |
Michelle Bade | West View Elementary | Muncie | Indiana |
Andrew Bennett | Fredonia High School | Fredonia | New York |
Gregory Bennett | Middletown High School | Middletown | New York |
Brandon Benson | J. U. Blacksher School | Uriah | Alabama |
Gary Bernice | Springfield High School of Science and Technology | Springfield | Massachusetts |
Robert Bertke | St. Francis School | Louisville | Kentucky |
Monica Bertran | St. Charles East High School | St. Charles | Illinois |
Justin Binek | Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City | Kansas |
Michael Blostein | Averill Park High School | Averill Park | New York |
Darrell Boston | Loretto High School | Loretto | Tennessee |
Andrew Bowerly | Tenino High School & Middle School | Tenino | Washington |
Jonathan Boysen | Eastside Catholic School | Sammamish | Washington |
Sedalia Brown | Christel House Watanabe Manual High School | Indianapolis | Indiana |
Matthew Brusseau | Davie County High School | Mocksville | North Carolina |
Ben Burge | Jones College | Ellisville | Mississippi |
Teresa Cameron | Eastside Elementary School | Lake City | Florida |
Jessica Campbell | Legacy Traditional School - NW Tucson | Tucson | Arizona |
Jennifer Canales | Weeksville Elementary | Elizabeth City | North Carolina |
Helen Capehart | Bridgeport Middle School | Bridgeport | Texas |
Marcos Carreras | Springfield Conservatory of The Arts | Springfield | Massachusetts |
Josh Chapel | Deerfield Windsor School | Albany | Georgia |
Christopher Clark | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | Ohio |
Kessler Cuffman | Howard Connect Academy | Chattanooga | Tennessee |
Nicole Davidson | Susan E. Wiley Elementary School | Copiague | New York |
Beth Davies | Franklin Middle School | Cedar Rapids | Iowa |
Robert DeSantis | Millville High School | Millville | New Jersey |
Shelby Dickey | Gorzycki Middle School | Austin | Texas |
Thomas DiNuoscio | Northeastern High School | Springfield | Ohio |
Heather Dipasquale | Todd County Middle School | Elkton | Kentucky |
Doris Doyon | Mt. San Antonio College | Walnut | California |
Dale Duncan | Henderson Middle School | Atlanta | Georgia |
Cuauhtemoc ("Moc") Escobedo | Eckstein Middle School | Seattle | Washington |
Wayne Fanning | Niu Valley Middle School | Honolulu | Hawaii |
Jordan Ford | Norwood Elementary School | Birmingham | Alabama |
Nicholas Gaudette | Edina High School | Edina | Minnesota |
Julie Gentry | Westover Hills Elementary School | Richmond | Virginia |
Andrew Gibb-Clark | Kirkwood High School | Kirkwood | Missouri |
Ryan Gonzales | James Monroe High School | Los Angeles | California |
Vivian Gonzalez | Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer | Miami | Florida |
Robert Green | Lakeland High School | White Lake | Michigan |
Keith Griffis | Walter L. Sickles High School | Tampa | Florida |
Shanti Gruber | Glenwood Springs High School & Middle School | Glenwood Springs | Colorado |
Melissa Gustafson-Hinds | O'Fallon Township High School | O’ Fallon | Illinois |
Matthew Hammong | Lawrence County High School | Louisa | Kentucky |
Montgomery Hill | Marion High School | Marion | Arkansas |
Michael Huebner | Kennesaw Mountain High School | Kennesaw | Georgia |
Gene Hundley | Swainsboro Middle School | Swainsboro | Georgia |
William R. Jenks | South Charleston Middle School | South Charleston | West Virginia |
Natalie Kerr | Bloomfield High School | Bloomfield | New Jersey |
Robin King | Fountain International Magnet School | Pueblo | Colorado |
Scott Krijnen | Castillero Middle School | San Jose | California |
Marissa Kyser | Spokane R-VII | Spokane | Missouri |
John Alan Landers | Lakenheath High School | APO | U.S. Armed Forces – |
Jacqueline Langley | Haverford Middle School | Havertown | Pennsylvania |
Brandon Larsen | Herriman High School | Herriman | Utah |
Derek Larson | St. Regis School | St. Regis | Montana |
Matthew Leder | Gadsden State Community College | Gadsden | Alabama |
Monica Leimer | DeLand High School | DeLand | Florida |
Michael Linert | Westminster High School | Westminster | Colorado |
Kevin Longwill | Abington School District | Abington | Pennsylvania |
Wes Lowe | The King's Academy | West Palm Beach | Florida |
Pamela Lowell | Cranston High School East | Cranston | Rhode Island |
Matt Martindale | Shelby County High School | Columbiana | Alabama |
Jesus Martinez | Sam Houston High School | Arlington | Texas |
Atsuko Haarz | Richwoods High School | Peoria | Illinois |
Emily Maurer | Slidell Junior High School | Slidell | Louisiana |
Margaret Maurice | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Charlotte | North Carolina |
Eric McAllister | Las Vegas Academy of the Arts | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Richard McCready | River Hill High School | Columbia | Maryland |
Angela McKenna | Classen SAS @ NE High School | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma |
Bob Mecozzi | Amos Alonzo Stagg High School | Palos Hills | Illinois |
A.J. Merlino | Albright College | Reading | Pennsylvania |
Amberle Mitchell | Washington High School | Fremont | California |
Wanda Mitchell | Hampton High School | Hampton | Virginia |
Charles Moorer | McArthur High School | Hollywood | Florida |
Lauren Morabito | Hendrick Hudson High School | Montrose | New York |
Alicia Mulloy | Liberty Middle School | Madison | Alabama |
Christopher Nicholas | West Adams Preparatory High School | Los Angeles | California |
Jason Noble | Scarsdale High School | Scarsdale | New York |
Laura O’Konski | Liberty High School | Bealeton | Virginia |
Meredith Olson | Elmwood Elementary | Elmwood Park | Illinois |
Todd Oxford | Texas State University School of Music | San Marcos | Texas |
Brian Parrish | Parkway West High School | Chesterfield | Missouri |
Robert Pettigrew | Westside High School | Anderson | South Carolina |
Daniel Philpott-Jones | Mohonasen High School | Schenectady | New York |
Ær Queen | Braddock Elementary School | Annandale | Virginia |
Michael Rais | Frost Middle School | Livonia | Michigan |
Marc Ratner | Mineola UFSD | Garden City Park | New York |
Christopher Redd | Dover High School | Dover | Ohio |
Kathleen Riser | Scott Central Attendance Center | Forest | Mississippi |
Raymond Roberts | Milwaukee High School of the Arts | Milwaukee | Wisconsin |
Sarah Ruff | Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts | Miami | Florida |
Caitlin Schmidt | JL Long Middle School | Dallas | Texas |
Dustin Shrum | Central Visual and Performing Arts High School | St. Louis | Missouri |
Andrew Smigielski | Forrest County Agricultural High School | Brooklyn | Mississippi |
Michael Francis Smith | Bourne Intermediate School | Bourne | Massachusetts |
Derek Smith | Hickory Ridge Middle School | Harrisburg | North Carolina |
Patrick Smith | Cooperative Arts & Humanities Magnet High School | New Haven | Connecticut |
Jordan Stehle | Matthew Whaley Elementary School | Williamsburg | Virginia |
Cindy Stone | Belgrade Middle School & High School | Belgrade | Montana |
Elizabeth Taylor | La Crosse Elementary School | La Crosse | Virginia |
Laura Taylor | Unity Junior High | Cicero | Illinois |
Bill Tiberio | Fairport High School | Fairport | New York |
Sarah Todd | Mary Lyon Elementary School | Chicago | Illinois |
Michael Tosh | Chapel Hill High School | Mount Pleasant | Texas |
Julie Trent | Glendale High School | Glendale | Arizona |
Patrick Van Arsdale | Ben Davis High School | Indianapolis | Indiana |
EJ Villanueva | Orange Grove Elementary School | Anaheim | California |
Derrick Walker | Cedar Hill High School | Cedar Hill | Texas |
Heaven Watson-Weary | Hunter Huss High School | Gastonia | North Carolina |
Christopher Weatherly | Christopher Weatherly | Washington | District of Columbia |
Carissa Werner | Ries Elementary | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Tammy White | Kiser Middle School | Greensboro | North Carolina |
Brian Willett | Monrovia High School | Monrovia | Indiana |
Jacquelin Witherspoon | J C Magill Elementary School | Loganville | Georgia |
Arthur Wright, III | Berkmar High School | Lilburn | Georgia |
Jayme Zimmerman | Bellefonte Elementary School | Bellefonte | Pennsylvania |
Photo: A. Schorr/ullstein bild via Getty Images
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10 Essential Henry Mancini Recordings: From "Moon River" To The 'Pink Panther' Theme
Composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Henry Mancini won 20 GRAMMY Awards over his legendary career. On what would be his 100th birthday, revisit 10 timeless Henry Mancini compositions.
Henry Mancini had a gift for melodies of an ethereal, almost supernatural beauty.
His prolific discography — albums of jazzy orchestral pop, dozens of film and television soundtracks — established him as a cultural icon and transformed the role that melody and song played in the art of movie narrative. Once you encounter a Henry Mancini tune, it’s almost impossible not to start humming it.
A composer, arranger, conductor and pianist of tireless discipline, Mancini won a staggering 20 GRAMMY Awards and was nominated 72 times. All of his wins — including the first-ever golden gramophone for Album Of The Year at the inaugural 1959 GRAMMYs — will be on display at the GRAMMY Museum to honor his centennial birthday, April 16.
To mark what would be his centennial birthday, Mancini's children will travel to Abruzzo, Italy — where Mancini’s parents migrated from. And on June 23, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra will present a program of his music with a gallery of guest stars including singer Monica Mancini, the maestro’s daughter. Out June 21, The Henry Mancini 100th Sessions – Henry Has Company will feature a new recording of "Peter Gunn" conducted by Quincy Jones and featuring John Williams, Herbie Hancock and Arturo Sandoval.
Although Mancini died in 1994 at age 70, his compositions remain timeless and ever-relevant. Read on for 10 essential Henry Mancini compositions to cherish and rediscover.
"Peter Gunn" (1958)
In 1958, Mancini was looking for work and used his old Universal studio pass to enter the lot and visit the barber shop. It was outside the store that he met writer/director Blake Edwards and got the chance to write the music for a new television show about private detective Peter Gunn.
Seeped in West Coast Jazz, Mancini’s main theme sounds brash and exciting to this day – its propulsive beat and wailing brass section evoking an aura of cool suspense. The "Peter Gunn" assignment cemented his reputation as a cutting-edge composer, and the accompanying album (The Music From Peter Gunn) won GRAMMYs in the Album Of The Year and Best Arrangement categories.
"Mr. Lucky" (1959)
Half of the "Peter Gunn" fan mail was addressed to Mancini. As a result, CBS offered Blake Edwards a second television show, as long as the composer was part of the package. Edwards created "Mr. Lucky," a stylish series about the owner of a floating casino off the California coast.
1959 was an exhausting year for Mancini, as he was scoring two shows at the same time on a weekly basis. Still, his music flowed with elegance and ease. The "Mr. Lucky" ambiance allowed him to explore Latin rhythms, and the strings on his wonderful main theme shimmer with a hint of yearning. It won GRAMMY Awards in 1960 for Best Arrangement and Best Performance by an Orchestra.
"Lujon" (1961)
As part of his contract with RCA Victor, Mancini was committed to recording a number of albums featuring original compositions in the same velvety jazz-pop idiom from his television work. "Lujon" is the standout track from Mr. Lucky Goes Latin, a collection of Latin-themed miniatures that luxuriate in a mood of plush languor.
Inspired by the complex harmonics of French composer Maurice Ravel, "Lujon" steers safely away from lounge exotica thanks to the refined qualities of the melody and arrangement.
"Moon River" (1961)
Performed on a harmonica, the main melody of "Moon River" is nostalgic to the bone, but also life affirming. A majestic string section makes the music swoon, like gliding on air. And the harmonies in the vocal chorus add gravitas — a touch of humanity.
It took Mancini half an hour to write "Moon River," but the Breakfast at Tiffany’s anthem made him a global superstar. Among the many artists who covered the song, pop crooner Andy Williams turned it into his personal anthem. Mancini won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and GRAMMY Awards for Record Of The Year, Song Record Of The Year and Best Arrangement. The album soundtrack earned two additional gramophones.
Theme from Hatari! (1962)
After two failed attempts with different composers, legendary director Howard Hawks invited Mancini to write the score for Hatari! — the wildly episodic but oddly endearing safari film he had shot in Tanganyika with John Wayne. Mancini jumped at the opportunity, and Hawks gave him a few boxes from the trip that contained African percussive instruments, a thumb piano and a tape of Masai tribal chants. Two chords from that chant, together with a slightly detuned upright piano formed the basis for the movie’s main theme.
Mancini’s sparse arrangement and melancholy melody conspired to create one of the most gorgeous themes in the history of film.
"Days of Wine and Roses" (1962)
Throughout the decades, Mancini provided musical accompaniment to Blake Edwards’ filmography, which switched from slapstick comedy to stark melodrama. There is a perverse beauty to the theme of Days of Wine and Roses — a movie about a couple of lifelong alcoholics — as the lush choral arrangement seems to glorify the innocence of better times.
It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song — Mancini’s second Oscar in a row — and three GRAMMYs: Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Background Arrangement.
"The Pink Panther Theme" (1963)
Directed by Edwards and starring Peter Sellers as part of an ensemble cast, the original Pink Panther was a frothy caper comedy that had none of the manic touches of comedic genius that Sellers would exhibit in subsequent entries of the franchise. It was Mancini’s ineffable main theme that carried the movie through.
Jazzy and mischievous, Mancini wrote the melody with the light-as-a-feather playing of tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson in mind. It won GRAMMYs in three categories: Best Instrumental Arrangement, Best Instrumental Compositions (Other Than Jazz), and Best Instrumental Performance – Non-Jazz.
Charade (1963)
Mancini’s gift for cosmopolitan tunes and jazzy arrangements found the perfect vehicle in the score for Stanley Donen’s Charade — a droll Hitchcockian thriller shot in Paris and starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.
The main theme is a waltz in A minor, and opens with pulsating percussion. When the central melody appears, it evokes a melancholy reflection and a certain thirst for the kind of globetrotting adventure that the film delivers in spades. It was Johnny Mercer’s favorite Mancini melody, and he wrote exquisite lyrics for it.
The best version probably belongs to jazz singer Johnny Hartman, who released it as the opening track of his 1964 album I Just Dropped By To Say Hello.
Two For The Road (1967)
Friends and family remember Mancini as a humble craftsman who ignored the trappings of fame and focused on the discipline of work. In 1967, after Audrey Hepburn cabled to ask him about writing the music for the Stanley Donen film Two For The Road, Mancini agreed, but was taken aback when the director rejected his initial theme. Leaving his ego aside, he returned to the drawing board and delivered a lovely new melody – and a spiraling piano pattern seeped in old fashioned tenderness.
"Theme from The Molly Maguires" (1970)
Even though Mancini enjoyed most accolades during the ‘60s, his protean level of inspiration never wavered. In 1970, he was brought in to rescue the soundtrack of Martin Ritt’s gritty secret societies drama The Molly Maguires, about Irish-American miners rebelling against their mistreatment in 19th century Pennsylvania.
The main theme makes time stand still: a sparse arrangement that begins with a solitary harp, until a recorder ushers in a haunting, Irish-inspired melody. The score reflected a more restrained Mancini, but was still intensely emotional.
Photo: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
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La Santa Cecilia Celebrates Their 'Alma Bohemia' With Documentary Screening & Performance At The GRAMMY Museum
In a documentary screening detailing the making of their album 'Cuatro Copas' followed by a discussion and live performance at the GRAMMY Museum, La Santa Cecilia recounts years of making music and friendship.
"Oh no, I’m going to start crying again," says La Santa Cecilia singer La Marisoul during a touching scene in Alma Bohemia, the documentary directed by Carlos Pérez honoring the Los Angeles band’s 15 year anniversary.
As it turns out, there are many reasons to be emotional about this film — and the very existence of La Santa Cecilia in the contemporary Latin music landscape. Fittingly, Alma Bohemia was received enthusiastically by the capacity audience during an exclusive screening on April 3 at the GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater in Los Angeles.
Formed by La Marisoul (real name is Marisol Hernández), bassist Alex Bendaña, accordionist and requinto player José "Pepe" Carlos and percussionist Miguel "Oso" Ramírez, La Santa Cecilia was for years one of the best kept secrets in the Los Angeles music scene. As close friends and musicians, they won over audiences with an organic, down-to-earth sound and a lovely songbook that draws from traditional formats such as bolero, ranchera and nueva canción.
Alma Bohemia follows the making of La Santa’s 2023 album, Cuatro Copas Bohemia en la Finca Altozano. A celebration of the band’s longevity, the session also functions as a subtle, yet powerful musical experiment. It was recorded at the Finca Altozano in Baja California, where the band members stayed as guests of celebrated chef Javier Plascencia — a longtime fan.
Argentine producer Sebastián Krys — the band’s longtime collaborator — calls this his Alan Lomax experiment. The album was recorded live on tape with a variety of strategically placed microphones capturing hints of ambient sonics — a sweet afternoon breeze, the clinking of glasses, the musicians’ banter, the soft sounds that accompany stillness.
From the very beginning, the making of Cuatro Copas mirrors the band’s bohemian cosmovision: A communal approach where the quartet — together with carefully selected guest stars — get together to share the magic of creation, the unity of like-minded souls, homemade food, and more than a couple of drinks. In effect, the bottles of mezcal and never ending rounds of toasting quickly become a running joke throughout the documentary.
La Marisoul’s fragile lament is enveloped in spiraling lines of mournful electric guitars with soulful understatement on the track "Almohada." Guest artists liven things up, with Oaxacan sister duo Dueto Dos Rosas adding urgency to "Pescadores de Ensenada," while son jarocho master Patricio Hidalgo ventures into a lilting (yet hopeful) "Yo Vengo A Ofrecer Mi Corazón," the ‘90s Argentine rock anthem by Fito Páez.
Visibly delighted to be part of the bohemia, 60-year-old ranchera diva Aida Cuevas steals the show with her rousing rendition of "Cuatro Copas," the José Alfredo Jiménez classic. "Viva México!" she exclaims as the entire group sits around a bonfire at night, forging the past and future of Mexican American music into one.
Read more: La Santa Cecilia Perform "Someday, Someday New"
Following the screening, the band sat down for a Q&A session hosted by journalist Betto Arcos. Sitting on the first row, a visibly moved young woman from El Salvador thanked the band for helping her to cope with the complex web of feelings entailed in migrating from Latin America. La Santa’s songs, she said, reminded her of the loving abuelita who stayed behind.
"We love the old boleros and rancheras," said La Marisoul. "We became musicians by playing many of those songs in small clubs and quinceañeras. It’s a repertoire that we love, and I don’t think that will ever change."
Carlos touched on his experience being a member of Santa Cecilia for about seven years before he was able to secure legal status in the U.S. When the band started to get concert bookings in Texas, they would take long detours on their drives to avoid the possibility of being stopped by the authorities. Carlos thanked his wife Ana for the emotional support she provided during those difficult years.
Ramírez took the opportunity to acknowledge producer Krys for being an early champion of the band. "He had a vision, and he made us better," he said, flashing forward to a recent edition of the Vive Latino festival. "There were about 12,000 people to see us," he said. "And they were singing along to our tunes."
"The band is just an excuse to hang out with your friends," added La Marisoul just before La Santa performed two live songs. Her voice sounded luminous and defiant in the theater’s intimate space, always the protagonist in the group’s delicately layered arrangements.
"The first time I got to see the finished documentary, I felt proud of all the work we’ve done together," said producer Krys from his Los Angeles studio the day after the screening. "On the other hand, there’s a lot of work ahead of us. I believe La Santa Cecilia deserves wider exposure. They should be up there among the greatest artists in Latin music."
Image courtesy of the GRAMMY Museum
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The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Returns To Celebrate 50th Anniversary: Inaugural Gala & Concert Taking Place May 21 In Los Angeles
Following a two-year hiatus, the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame returns to celebrate its 50th anniversary with an inaugural gala and concert on Tuesday, May 21, at the NOVO Theater in Los Angeles. Ten recordings will be newly inducted into the Hall this year.
Following a two-year hiatus, the GRAMMY Museum and Recording Academy are reinstating the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame on its 50th anniversary. The momentous event will be celebrated with an inaugural gala and concert on Tuesday, May 21, at the NOVO Theater in Los Angeles; tickets and performers for the event will be announced at a later date. As part of the return, 10 recordings, including four albums and six singles, will be newly inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame later this year.
The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees. There are currently 1,152 inducted recordings in the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. View the full list GRAMMY Hall Of Fame past inductees.
This year, the GRAMMY Museum’s GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala will be the first of what will become an annual event, and includes a red carpet and VIP reception on the newly opened Ray Charles Terrace at the GRAMMY Museum, followed by a one-of-a-kind concert at the NOVO Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.
The inaugural gala and concert is produced by longtime executive producer of the GRAMMY Awards, Ken Ehrlich, along with Chantel Sausedo and Ron Basile and will feature musical direction by globally renowned producer and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to halloffame@grammymuseum.org.
Keep watching this space for more exciting news about the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame!
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The GRAMMY Museum Celebrates Black History Month 2024 With A Series Of Special Programs And Events
Throughout February, the GRAMMY Museum will celebrate the profound legacy and impact of Black music with workshops, screenings, and intimate conversations.
The celebration isn't over after the 2024 GRAMMYs. In recognition of Black History Month, the GRAMMY Museum proudly honors the indelible impact of Black music on America and the fabric of global pop culture.
This programming is a testament to the rich heritage and profound influence of Black artists, whose creativity and resilience have shaped the foundation of American music. Through a series of thoughtfully curated events — including educational workshops, family programs, special screenings, and intimate conversations — the Museum aims to illuminate the vibrant legacy and ongoing evolution of Black music.
From a workshop on the rhythmic storytelling of hip-hop following its 50th anniversary and the soulful echoes of Bill Withers' classics, to the groundbreaking contributions of James Brown and the visionary reimagination of "The Wiz," these GRAMMY Museum programs encapsulate the enduring legacy and dynamic future of Black music.
The GRAMMY Museum invites audiences to delve into the stories, sounds, and souls that have woven Black music into the tapestry of our shared human experience. Through this journey, the Museum and the Recording Academy honor the artists, visionaries, and pioneers whose talents have forever altered the landscape of music and culture.
Read on for additional information on the GRAMMY Museum's month-long tribute that explores, appreciates and celebrates the invaluable contributions of Black music to our world.
Thurs., Feb. 8
History of Hip-Hop Education Workshop
WHAT: In celebration of the 50 years of hip-hop, this workshop examines the unique evolution of Hip Hop from its origin to where the genre is today. Highlighting the golden age of Hip Hop, this lesson will provide students with a greater understanding of the struggles and triumphs of the genre.
WHEN: 11 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
REGISTER: Click here.
Sat., Feb. 10
Family Time: Grandma’s Hands
WHAT: Join us for a very special family program celebrating the recently released children’s book Grandma’s Hands based on one of Bill Withers’ most beloved songs. Bill’s wife, Marcia, and daughter, Kori, will participate in a book reading, conversation, audience Q&A, and performance, followed by a book signing. The program is free (4 tickets per household.)
WHEN: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
REGISTER: Click here.
Mon., Feb. 12
Celebrating James Brown: Say It Loud
WHAT: The GRAMMY Museum hosts a special evening on the life and music of the late "Godfather of Soul" James Brown. The program features exclusive clips from A&E's forthcoming documentary James Brown: Say It Loud, produced in association with Polygram Entertainment, Mick Jagger’s Jagged Films and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s Two One Five Entertainment, followed by a conversation with Director Deborah Riley Draper, superstar Producer Jimmy Jam, and some surprises.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
REGISTER: Click here.
Sat., Feb. 17
Backstage Pass: "The Wiz"
WHAT: Presented in partnership with the African American Film Critics Association, join us for an afternoon spotlighting the famed Broadway Musical, "The Wiz," with the producers and creative team responsible for the Broadway bound reboot. The program will feature a lively conversation, followed by an audience Q&A in the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater, and will be hosted by AAFCA President, Gil Robertson, and GRAMMY Museum Education & Community Engagement Manager, Schyler O’Neal. The program is free (four tickets per household).
WHEN: 1 p.m.
REGISTER: Click here.
Thurs., Feb. 22
History of Hip-Hop Education Workshop
WHAT: In celebration of the 50 years of hip-hop, this workshop examines the unique evolution of Hip Hop from its origin to where the genre is today. Highlighting the golden age of Hip Hop, this lesson will provide students with a greater understanding of the struggles and triumphs of the genre.
WHEN: 11 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
REGISTER: Click here.
Reel To Reel: A Hip Hop Story
WHAT: In conjunction with the GRAMMY Museum's exhibit, Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit, the GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to host a special screening of A Hip Hop Story with a post-screening conversation featuring Affion Crockett to follow.
WHEN: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
REGISTER: Click here.
Sun., Feb. 25
Lunar New Year Celebration
WHAT: Join us for a special program celebrating Lunar New Year as we usher in the Year of the Dragon with a performance by the South Coast Chinese Orchestra. The orchestra is from Orange County and uses both traditional Chinese instruments and western string instruments. It is led by Music Director, Jiangli Yu, Conductor, Bin He, and Executive Director, Yulan Chung. The program will take place in the Clive Davis Theater. This program is made possible by the generous support of Preferred Bank. The program is free (four tickets per household).
WHEN: 1:30 p.m.
REGISTER: Click here.
Tues., Feb. 27
A Conversation With Nicole Avant
WHAT: The GRAMMY Museum is thrilled to welcome best-selling author, award-winning film producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ambassador Nicole Avant to the museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for a conversation moderated by Jimmy Jam about her new memoir Think You’ll Be Happy – Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace and Gratitude. All ticket buyers will receive a signed copy of the book.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
REGISTER: Click here.