Recipient and Finalists to Receive Cash Honorariums, with Generous Support and Resources Provided by the GRAMMY Foundation®'s Education Champions: Converse, Disney Performing Arts, Ford Motor Company Fund, and Journeys
Second Annual Award will be Presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony during GRAMMY® Week 2015
WHO: A total of 222 music teachers from 208 cities across 41 states have been announced as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award™ presented by The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation®. In total, more than 7,000 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.
WHAT: The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (K – 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 Foundation, this special award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony (honoring recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical GRAMMY® Award) during GRAMMY Week 2015.
As announced on the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards® by President/CEO of The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation Neil Portnow, TV and radio host/producer and GRAMMY Foundation Honorary Board Chair Ryan Seacrest, and nine-time GRAMMY® winner Justin Timberlake, the award was open to current U.S. music teachers, and anyone could nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. Teachers were also able to nominate themselves, and nominated teachers were notified and invited to fill out an application.
One recipient will be selected from 10 finalists each year, and will be recognized for his/her remarkable impact on students' lives. The winner will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the award, attend the GRAMMY Awards ceremony, and receive a $10,000 honorarium. The nine finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists also will receive matching grants. The honorariums and grants provided to the finalists and schools are made possible by the generosity and support of the GRAMMY Foundation's Education Champions: Converse, Disney Performing Arts, Ford Motor Company Fund, and Journeys. Nominations for the 2016 Music Educator Award are now open at www.grammymusicteacher.com.
WHEN: A complete list of quarterfinalists is below. The semifinalists will be announced in September. For more information, please visit www.grammymusicteacher.com.
| Name | School Name | City | State |
| Keely Abeln | Francis Howell Middle School | Saint Charles | Mo. |
| Diane Abrahamian | Penfield High School | Rochester | N.Y. |
| Steven Acciani | Diamond Bar High School | Diamond Bar | Calif. |
| Phil Aguglia | Kenmore East High School | Tonawanda | N.Y. |
| Leslie Alan | South Miami Middle Community School | Miami | Fla. |
| J. Anthony Allen | McNally Smith College of Music | St. Paul | Minn. |
| Anthony Allmond | Kaiser High School | Fontana | Calif. |
| Anthony Alvaro | West Genesee High School | Camillus | N.Y. |
| Corey Ames | Loyola Academy | Wilmette | Ill. |
| Mark Anderson | Oswalt K8 Academy | Walnut | Calif. |
| Neil Anderson | Murrieta Valley High School | Murrieta | Calif. |
| David Bachart | New Hope-Solebury High School | New Hope | Pa. |
| Nancy Maria Balach | University of Mississippi | Oxford | Miss. |
| Mary Barto | The New School | New York | N.Y. |
| Graham "Scott" Barton | Moreau Catholic High School | Hayward | Calif. |
| Jeff Behrens | Richland Center High School | Richland Center | Wis. |
| William Bennett | Cane Bay High School | Summerville | S.C. |
| Fritz Benz | North Smithfield High School | North Smithfield | R.I. |
| Jake Bergevin | Edmonds-Woodway High School | Edmonds | Wash. |
| Anthony Bernhauser | Pearre Creek Elementary School | Franklin | Tenn. |
| Rob Blaney | Woodbridge High School | Irvine | Calif. |
| Cindy Bradley-Cipriano | Colonial Road School | Franklin Lakes | N.J. |
| Gregg Breinberg | P.S. 22 | Staten Island | N.Y. |
| Timothy Brown | Franklin High School | Reisterstown | Md. |
| Stephanie Brueggeman | Progress South Elementary School | St. Peters | Mo. |
| Aaron Buck | DeWitt Middle School | Ithaca | N.Y. |
| Jean Burkhart | Seymour High School | Seymour | Tenn. |
| Joe Cantaffa | Howell High School | Farmingdale | N.J. |
| Otis Carter III | Moss Point High School | Moss Point | Miss. |
| Jared Cassedy | Windham High School | Windham | N.H. |
| Brandon Catt | Glenbard East High School | Lombard | Ill. |
| Caleb Chapman | Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts | American Fork | Utah |
| Bernie Chavez | Deming High School | Deming | N.M. |
| Ching-Ming Cheng | California State University San Marcos | San Marcos | Calif. |
| Michael Chester | Stewarts Creek High School | Smyrna | Tenn. |
| Josh Chodoroff | Waubonsie Valley High School | Aurora | Ill. |
| Joseph Chouinard | East Detroit High School | Eastpointe | Mich. |
| Dr. Buddy Clements | Walnut High School | Walnut | Calif. |
| Joyce Click | North Central High School | Indianapolis | Ind. |
| Travis Coakley | Biloxi High School | Biloxi | Miss. |
| Christy Colburn | Itawamba Community College | Fulton | Miss. |
| Name | School Name | City | State |
| Mark Colozzi | Cranston High School East | Cranston | R.I. |
| Steve Connell | Moc-Floyd Valley Senior High School | Orange City | Iowa |
| Travis Cook | Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts | Detroit | Mich. |
| Cheryl Corkran | Greenacres Middle School | Bossier City | La. |
| Glenn Cowen | Upper Moreland High School | Willow Grove | Pa. |
| Ryan Crabtree | Fruita Monument High School | Fruita | Colo. |
| Charles Cushinery | Ed W. Clark High School | Las Vegas | Nev. |
| Michael Danielson | First Avenue Middle School | Arcadia | Calif. |
| Adrian Davis | Roosevelt High School | Minneapolis | Minn. |
| Andy Davis | Reavis High School | Burbank | Ill. |
| David Davis | Harmony Middle School | Overland Park | Kan. |
| Mark De Hertogh | R.L. Paschal High School | Fort Worth | Texas |
| David Dehner | Monte Vista Christian School | Watsonville | Calif. |
| Jamal Dickerson | Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy | Camden | N.J. |
| Jeff Doebler | Valparaiso University | Valparaiso | Ind. |
| Mark Duker | Waubonsie Valley High School | Aurora | Ill. |
| Terry Eberhardt | Marriotts Ridge High School | Marriottsville | Md. |
| Steven Edwards | Falmouth High School | Falmouth | Mass. |
| Nicholas Efstathiou | Bay High School | Panama City | Fla. |
| Alexandra Errico | Springdale Elementary School | Stamford | Conn. |
| Eufemio Escalante | Vina Danks Middle School | Ontario | Calif. |
| Krista Fanning | Caddo Middle Magnet | Shreveport | La. |
| Michael Fansler | Western Illinois University | Macomb | Ill. |
| Mark Femino | Millis Middle/High School | Millis | Mass. |
| Anne Fennell | Mission Vista High School | Oceanside | Calif. |
| John Flora | Franklin L. Williams Middle School #7 | Jersey City | N.J. |
| Elizabeth Fortune | Washington Middle School | Seattle | Wash. |
| Desiree Fowler | Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual & Performing Arts | Los Angeles | Calif. |
| Brian Gagnon | Fairview Elementary School | Auburn | Maine |
| Michael Garvey | Lamphere High School | Madison Heights | Mich. |
| Sean Gavarny | Hoboken Charter School | Hoboken | N.J. |
| Debbie Glick | Alexandria Middle School | Pittstown | N.J. |
| Vivian Gonzalez | South Miami K-8 Center | Miami | Fla. |
| Anthony Good | Nicholas Oresko School | Bayonne | N.J. |
| Johnnie Green | Lehman High School | Kyle | Texas |
| Randy Greenwell | Lawrence Central High School | Indianapolis | Ind. |
| Janet Grice | Fordham High School for the Arts | Bronx | N.Y. |
| Melissa Gustafson-Hinds | O'Fallon Township High School | O'Fallon | Ill. |
| Eric Hahn | Bangor Area High School | Bangor | Pa. |
| Amy Hannequin | Derby High School | Derby | Conn. |
| Aaron Hardwick | Frank W. Cox High School | Virginia Beach | Va. |
| Name | School Name | City | State |
| Rodney Harshbarger | Old Kings Elementary School | Flagler Beach | Fla. |
| Brad Hart | Johansen High School | Modesto | Calif. |
| Richard Hauf | Havre de Grace High School | Havre de Grace | Md. |
| Micah Haven | Meeker Middle School | Tacoma | Wash. |
| Sheila Heffernon | Northfield Mount Hermon School | Gill | Mass. |
| Lenora Helm Hammonds | North Carolina Central University | Durham | N.C. |
| Michael Henderson | Chase High School | Forest City | N.C. |
| Michael Anthony Hernandez | Plano Senior High School | Plano | Texas |
| Aaron Hill Sr. | Smithfield High School | Smithfield | Va. |
| Michael Hood | Wissahickon High School | Ambler | Pa. |
| Robin Hopper | Homestead Elementary School | Eagle River | Alaska |
| Ronald Horner | Frostburg State University | Frostburg | Md. |
| Matthew Howe | Indio High School | Indio | Calif. |
| Frank Hudson | Bledsoe County High School | Pikeville | Tenn. |
| Ian Hughes | Verner Elementary | Oakmont | Pa. |
| Ralph Jackson | Bridle Path Elementary School | Lansdale | Pa. |
| Robb Janov | Jefferson Middle School | Albuquerque | N.M. |
| Sarah Jester | Northeast High School | Pasadena | Md. |
| Calvert Johnson | Agnes Scott College | Decatur | Ga. |
| Curtis Johnson | West Virginia Wesleyan College | Buckhannon | W. Va. |
| D.L. Johnson | North Monterey County High School | Castroville | Calif. |
| Kyle Johnson | JJ Pearce High School | Richardson | Texas |
| Jamie Johnston | Camelback High School | Phoenix | Ariz. |
| Sean Kennedy | Sandy Run Middle School | Dresher | Pa. |
| Demeka Kimpson | Sedgefield Middle School | Charlotte | N.C. |
| Shannon Kitelinger | San Diego State University | San Diego | Calif. |
| Anne Klus | St. Paul Academy and Summit School | St. Paul | Minn. |
| Joan Knoernschild | Greenfield Middle School | El Cajon | Calif. |
| Barry E. Kopetz | Capital University | Columbus | Ohio |
| Nancie Kozel-Tobison | Barrington High School | Barrington | Ill. |
| Gordon Krauspe | Wheaton Warrenville South High School | Wheaton | Ill. |
| Jacalyn Kreitzer | Cal Poly State University | San Luis Obispo | Calif. |
| Don Krudop | Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School | Virginia Beach | Va. |
| John Landers | Patch High School | APO | N.Y. |
| Mark Laughlin | Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus | Ga. |
| David Leach | Pioneer High School | Ann Arbor | Mich. |
| Ollie Liddell | Memphis Central High School | Memphis | Tenn. |
| Susanna Loewy | Kutztown University | Kutztown | Pa. |
| Jason Luciana | Wilmington High School | Wilmington | Mass. |
| Jami Lupold | Pearl Hall Elementary | South Houston | Texas |
| Erik Lynch | Verona High School | Verona | N.J. |
| Name | School Name | City | State |
| Mark Lynn | University of Louisville | Louisville | Ky. |
| Fernando Malvar-Ruiz | American Boychoir School | Princeton | N.J. |
| Dean Marino | West Port High School | Ocala | Fla. |
| Stevi Marks | Glenbrook South High School | Glenview | Ill. |
| Christine Martin-Beutner | Sam Houston Elementary School | Denton | Texas |
| Richard Maxwell | Arcadia High School | Phoenix | Ariz. |
| James McCrann | Garden City High School | Garden City | N.Y. |
| Lisa McCutchan | Sandra Day O'Connor High School | Helotes | Texas |
| Shawna Mendez | The Manning School | Golden | Colo. |
| Carlos Mendez Jr. | Fayetteville-Manlius High School | Manlius | N.Y. |
| Andrea Meyers | Douglas County High School | Castle Rock | Colo. |
| Jonathan Meyers | P.S. 182Q Samantha Smith | Jamaica | N.Y. |
| Duane Minnick | Briar Woods High School | Ashburn | Va. |
| Patrick Mitchell | Cameron Park Elementary | Hillsborough | N.C. |
| Charles Morgan | Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Ill. |
| Melissa Morris | CSI High School for International Studies | Staten Island | N.Y. |
| Mark Mraz | John Metcalf Junior High School | Burnsville | Minn. |
| Melton Mustafa | Parkway Middle School of the Arts | Lauderhill | Fla. |
| Kim Neu | Julia R. Masterman Laboratory & Demonstration School | Philadelphia | Pa. |
| Torrey Newhart | Academy of Arts and Academics | Springfield | Ore. |
| Matthew Neylon | Rockford Christian Schools | Rockford | Ill. |
| Pablo Ocanas | Pine Shadows Elementary | Houston | Texas |
| Michael Ortiz | Bellalago Academy | Kissimmee | Fla. |
| Frank Owens | Centennial Lane Elementary School | Ellicott City | Md. |
| Thomas Paster | Northern Highlands Regional High School | Allendale | N.J. |
| Sarah Payne | Bryan Station Middle School | Lexington | Ky. |
| Andrew Perkins | Fenton High School | Fenton | Mich. |
| Cynthia Plank | Beaumont Middle School | Portland | Ore. |
| Linette Popoff-Parks | Madonna University | Livonia | Mich. |
| Richard Popolizio | Park Ridge Middle/High School | Park Ridge | N.J. |
| Jay Posteraro | Mesa Verde Middle School | San Diego | Calif. |
| Deborah Prather | Brownsburg High School | Brownsburg | Ind. |
| Edward Protzman | Blue Valley Southwest | Overland Park | Kan. |
| Rosa Rabinovich | Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8 | Sunny Isles | Fla. |
| Michael Raiber | Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City | Okla. |
| Mary Raymond | Immaculate High School | Danbury | Conn. |
| Debra Reilly | Springhouse Middle School | Allentown | Pa. |
| Shawn Reynolds | Howland Middle School | Warren | Ohio |
| Jim Rice | Inglemoor High School | Kenmore | Wash. |
| Erich Rivero | Glades Middle School | Miami | Fla. |
| John Roberts | Montana State University Billings | Billings | Mont. |
| Name | School Name | City | State |
| Brian Roelandt | Fitzgerald High School | Warren | Mich. |
| Robin Rogers | Charleston School of the Arts | Charleston | S.C. |
| Kathy Rohrs | Chaminade College Preparatory Middle School | Chatsworth | Calif. |
| Don Rose | Curtis Senior High School | University Place | Wash. |
| Mara Rose | Fleming Island High School | Orange Park | Fla. |
| Susan Rydzeski | East Islip High School | Islip Terrace | N.Y. |
| Melissa Salguero | P.S. 48 Joseph R. Drake | Hunts Point | N.Y. |
| Peter Sampson | Whiteland Community High School | Whiteland | Ind. |
| Jesse Sanchez | Westmont High School | Campbell | Calif. |
| Scott Schleuter | Perrysburg High School | Perrysburg | Ohio |
| Glen Schneider | Metea Valley High School | Aurora | Ill. |
| Adam Schultheis | Fremont Middle School | Las Vegas | Nev. |
| Calvin Sexton | Beltline Elementary School | Lancaster | Texas |
| Curtis Shaw | Homestead High School | Fort Wayne | Ind. |
| Keven Shepherd | Miller Grove High School | Lithonia | Ga. |
| Chaz Shipman | Freeport Area Senior High School | Sarver | Pa. |
| Karl Siewertsen | John H. West School | Bethpage | N.Y. |
| Paula Simmons | Elwood Community High School | Elwood | Ind. |
| Luke Skerpon | Bellefonte Area High School | Bellefonte | Pa. |
| Huber Smith | Maplewood Middle School | Sulphur | La. |
| Michael Smith | Nyack High School | Nyack | N.Y. |
| Nick Smith | Hillcrest High School | Tuscaloosa | Ala. |
| Patrick Smith | Pueblo West High School | Pueblo | Colo. |
| Ronald Smith | Northfield Mount Hermon | Gill | Mass. |
| Andrea Crisara Snouffer | West Ridge Middle School | Austin | Texas |
| Wilbert Solomon | McLean Middle School | Fort Worth | Texas |
| Charles Somech | Murrayville Elementary | Wilmington | N.C. |
| Eric Songer | Chaska Middle School West | Chaska | Minn. |
| Michael Steele | Lake Orion High School | Lake Orion | Mich. |
| Roxanne Stevenson | Chicago State University | Chicago | Ill. |
| James Story | Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Tenn. |
| Brad Stoughton | Fall Creek High School | Fall Creek | Wis. |
| Daniel Strange | University of Miami | Coral Gables | Fla. |
| Jeffrey Street | Jesse C. Carson High School | China Grove | N.C. |
| Michael Struzik | Brighton High School | Rochester | N.Y. |
| Loy Studer | S. H. Rider High School | Wichita Falls | Texas |
| Siema Swartzel | Arnold Memorial Elementary School | Cleveland | Tenn. |
| Jennifer Theisen | Howell L. Watkins Middle School | Palm Beach Gardens | Fla. |
| Matthew Thomas | River Trail Middle School | Johns Creek | Ga. |
| Vann Thornton | Savannah Arts Academy | Savannah | Ga. |
| Amber Turcott | Tarpon Springs Middle School | Tarpon Springs | Fla. |
| Vincent Turturiello | Scotch Plains Fanwood High School | Scotch Plains | N.J. |
| Name | School Name | City | State |
| Josh Tyree | Liberty Middle School | Cumming | Ga. |
| Matt Vanacoro | Fox Lane Middle School | Mt. Kisco | N.Y. |
| Amy Vanek | Clarksburg High School | Clarksburg | Md. |
| Micah Volz | Saint Clair High School | St. Clair | Mich. |
| Ashley "AJ" Walker | Linden Hall School | Lititz | Pa. |
| Kristen Walter | Dana Elementary School | Hendersonville | N.C. |
| Jay Wardeska | Brunswick High School | Brunswick | Ohio |
| Fred Wenger | East Middle School | Great Falls | Mont. |
| Ken Wiele | Indian Trail High School and Academy | Kenosha | Wis. |
| Dustin Wiley | Firelands High School | Oberlin | Ohio |
| Diana Wiley-Harrigan | Sauk Elementary School | Richton Park | Ill. |
| Katie Wilson | Cathedral Catholic High School | San Diego | Calif. |
| Kelly Winovich | Northgate Middle and Senior High School | Pittsburgh | Pa. |
| Mark Wurtzel | Pershing Middle School | Houston | Texas |
| James Wynne | Jefferson Township High School | Oak Ridge | N.J. |
| Danny Yancey | Martin Gifted and Talented Magnet Middle School | Raleigh |
N.C. |
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1988 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. In recognition of the significant role of teachers in shaping their students' musical experiences, The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation partnered to present their first Music Educator Award. Open to current U.S. music teachers in K through college, the Music Educator Award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards ceremony during GRAMMY Week 2015. For more information about the Music Educator Award, please visit GRAMMYMusicTeacher.com. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.grammyfoundation.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like "GRAMMY in the Schools®" on Facebook, follow the GRAMMY Foundation on Twitter (@GRAMMYFdn) and join us on Instagram (@GRAMMYFdn),
Converse Inc., based in North Andover, Massachusetts, 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. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 83 company-owned retail locations in the United States. For more information, visit media.converse.com.
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 California and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disney delivers workshops and performance opportunities that enrich, inspire and often lead to life-changing personal achievement.
Ford Motor Company Fund & Community Services works with community partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. For more than 60 years, Ford Motor Company Fund has operated with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. The award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life program teaches new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods. Innovation in education is encouraged through national programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. Through the Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 25,000 Ford employees and dealers work on projects each year that better their communities in more than 30 countries. For more information, visit www.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, Journeys reaches its customers through www.journeys.com, a mobile website, catalog, national advertising, strategic cross-promotions, social media and grass-roots events like the Noise Tour. Journeys — An Attitude You Can Wear! Journeys is a division of Genesco Inc.
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Media Contacts:
Hannah Berryman/GRAMMY Foundation/MusiCares/310.581.8724/hannah.berryman@grammy.com
Christina Cassidy/GRAMMY Foundation/310.581.8670/christina.cassidy@grammy.com
For Ford Motor Company Fund:
Lauren Tobin/Ford Motor Company Fund/818.988.8864/lauren@pantherpr.biz
Program Contact:
Kellyn Robison/GRAMMY Foundation/310.581.8605/kellyn.robison@grammy.com
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