The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation announced today that nominations for the second annual Music Educator Award are now open. The award is open to current U.S.-based music teachers from kindergarten through college, in public and private schools. Anyone can nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators — and teachers are also able to nominate themselves. Nominated teachers will be notified and invited to fill out an application.
On the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast on Jan. 26, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation Neil Portnow, GRAMMY Foundation Honorary Board Chair Ryan Seacrest and nine-time GRAMMY-winning artist John Legend announced Kent Knappenberger of Westfield Academy and Central School in Westfield, N.Y., as the recipient of the first annual Music Educator Award. A total of nine music teachers from nine cities across seven states were finalists for the award. In total, more than 30,000 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.
View a complete list of 2013 Music Educator Award finalists
The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators 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 application process for the award will adjust each year to allow the broad array of effective teaching styles and methods used in the discipline to be recognized and awarded.
One winner will be selected from 10 finalists each year to be recognized for their remarkable impact on their students' lives. The second annual award will be presented during GRAMMY Week in 2015, and the winner will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the award and attend the 57th GRAMMY Awards, and will receive a $10,000 honorarium.
The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2014. To view guidelines and/or nominate your favorite music educator, visit www.grammymusicteacher.com.