WHO:
A total of 217 music teachers from 195 cities across 45 states have been announced as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation®. In total, more than 30,000 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 have its inaugural presentation at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony and Nominees Reception honoring recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustee Award, Technical GRAMMY® Award during GRAMMY Week 2014.
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 six-time GRAMMY® winner Justin Timberlake, the award was open to current United States 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 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, Ford Motor Company Fund, General Mills Box Tops For Education, and Journeys.
WHEN:
A complete list of quarterfinalists is below. The semifinalists will be announced in August. For more information visit, www.grammymusicteacher.com.
Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists |
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Diane Abrahamian |
Penfield High School |
Penfield, N.Y. |
Michael Agidius |
McLoughlin High School |
Milton-Freewater, Ore. |
Michael Allard |
Harmony Magnet Academy |
Strathmore, Calif. |
DJ Alstadt |
Naperville Central High School |
Naperville, Ill. |
Corey Ames |
Loyola Academy |
Wilmette, Ill. |
Samuel Anderson |
Rockhurst High School |
Kansas City, Mo. |
Scott Baeseman |
Lake Forest Country Day School |
Lake Forest, Ill. |
Barbara Baker |
McIntosh High School |
Peachtree City, Ga. |
Dawn Barham |
Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science |
Columbus, Miss. |
Peter Barsch |
Oswego East High School |
Oswego, Ill. |
Carol Beadle |
Liberty Corner Elementary School |
Liberty Corner, N.J. |
Gregory Bennett |
Middletown High School |
Middletown, N.Y. |
Jay Berckley |
The Village School |
Houston |
Gary Bernice |
Springfield High School of Science and Technology |
Springfield, Mass. |
Matthew Berthot |
Winfield High School |
Winfield, Kan. |
Lisa Bianconi |
Kurn Hattin Homes for Children |
Westminster, Vt. |
Logan Biles |
Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Visual, and Performing Arts |
Las Vegas |
Aron Blanke |
Center for Creative Learning |
Ellisville, Mo. |
Lloyd Bone Jr. |
Glenville State College |
Glenville, W.Va. |
Faye Boyer |
Lake Joy Primary School |
Warner Robins, Ga. |
Jamie Breiwick |
Maple Dale School |
Fox Point, Wis. |
Adam Brennan |
Mansfield University |
Mansfield, Pa. |
Brenda Brenner |
Indiana University |
Bloomington, Ind. |
Dan Brenner |
Spring Grove Area High School |
Spring Grove, Pa. |
Tony Brown |
Mehlville High School |
St. Louis |
Glen Cain |
Gold Trail School |
Placerville, Calif. |
Malena Calle |
Southwood Middle School Center for the Arts |
Palmetto Bay, Fla. |
Brandon Catt |
Glenbard East High School |
Lombard, Ill. |
Jeffrey Cayer |
Southwest Middle School |
Lakeland, Fla. |
Caleb Chapman |
Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts |
Lehi, Utah |
Linda Christensen |
Wayne State College |
Wayne, Neb. |
Gary Coartney |
Concord High School |
Concord, Calif. |
James Compton |
Sunset Primary School |
West Linn, Ore. |
J. Scott Cooksey |
Jeffersonville High School |
Jeffersonville, Ind. |
Tiffany Cox |
Calusa Elementary School |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
Radio Cremata |
Aspira |
Miami |
Charles Cushinery |
Ed W. Clark High School |
Las Vegas |
Jetro da Silva |
Berklee College of Music |
Boston |
Mark Dahlberg |
Fort Myers High School |
Fort Myers, Fla. |
Amy Darby |
Phoenixville Area Middle School |
Phoenixville, Pa. |
Jim Daughters |
Conner Middle School |
Hebron, Ky. |
Neil Delson |
Central Bucks High School West |
Doylestown, Pa. |
Andrew DeNicola |
John P. Stevens High School |
Edison, N.J. |
Dr. Leslie Anne Denning |
South Miami Middle Community School |
Miami |
Martin Dickey |
Nation Ford High School |
Fort Mill, S.C. |
Christopher Dorsey |
Dillard Center for the Arts |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
Mark Duker |
Neuqua Valley High School |
Naperville, Ill. |
Jason Eckl |
Sinaloa Middle School |
Novato, Calif. |
Jan Eddington |
Blackfoot High School |
Blackfoot, Idaho |
Peter Eklund |
University of Nebraska—Lincoln |
Lincoln, Neb. |
Cuauhtemoc Escobedo |
Eckstein Middle School |
Seattle |
Aaron Evens |
Lawrence County High School |
Lawrenceburg, Tenn. |
Krista Fanning |
Caddo Middle Magnet |
Shreveport, La. |
Adrian Farris |
Monroe Elementary School |
Janesville, Wis. |
Julia Federico |
Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School |
Philadelphia |
Cynthia Feeney |
Ironia Elementary School |
Randolph, N.J. |
Megan Franke |
Las Vegas Academy of the Arts |
Las Vegas |
Jolene Dalton Gailey |
Port Angeles High School |
Port Angeles, Wash. |
Tiffany Galus |
New Prairie High School |
New Carlisle, Ind. |
Elaine Gates |
New York University & LIU Post |
New York |
Diana Geiger |
Boynton Middle School |
Ithaca, N.Y. |
Michael Genevay |
Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies Public School |
Metairie, La. |
John Gillick |
Terrill Middle School |
Scotch Plains, N.J. |
Chrissy Givan |
Iroquois High School |
Louisville, Ky. |
Vivian Gonzalez |
South Miami K-8 Center |
Miami |
Todd Goodman |
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School |
Midland, Pa. |
Dakeyan Graham |
C. Leon King High School |
Tampa, Fla. |
Jeff Grant |
Prattville High School |
Prattville, Ala. |
Brenda Gregory |
Siegel High School |
Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
Janet Grice |
Fordham High School for the Arts |
Bronx, N.Y. |
Jeffrey Haas |
Ridgewood High School |
Ridgewood, N.J. |
Jeremy Hackworth |
Etiwanda High School |
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. |
Becky Hall |
Smith Road Elementary |
North Syracuse, N.Y. |
Adam Hallam |
Doris French Elementary School |
Las Vegas |
Zach Halop |
Northwood High School |
Irvine, Calif. |
Mary Halsig |
Truesdell Middle School |
Wichita, Kan. |
Christopher T.F. Hanson |
Goodnight Middle School, Miller Middle School, San Marcos High School |
San Marcos, Texas |
Sky Harris |
Chestnut Hill Middle School |
Liverpool, N.Y. |
Rodney Harshbarger |
Old Kings Elementary |
Flagler Beach, Fla. |
John Harshey |
West Oak Middle School |
Mundelein, Ill. |
Steve Hayes |
Roanoke-Benson High School |
Roanoke, Ill. |
Silvester Henderson |
Los Medanos College |
Pittsburg, Calif. |
Micah Hirokawa |
Le Jardin Academy |
Kailua, Hawaii |
Keith Hodgson |
Mainland Regional High School |
Linwood, N.J. |
Johnny Holloway |
Evans Middle School |
Newnan, Ga. |
Michael Hood |
Wissahickon High School |
Ambler, Pa. |
Robin Hopper |
Homestead Elementary School |
Eagle River, Alaska |
Scott Houston |
M.B. Lamar High School |
Houston |
Greg Hutchison |
Lower Dauphin Middle School |
Hummelstown, Pa. |
Glendon Ingalls |
Rutland Town School |
Rutland, Vt. |
Roberto Iriarte |
Hudson City School District |
Hudson, Ohio |
Charles Jackson |
Dodgen Middle School |
Marietta, Ga. |
Curtis Johnson |
West Virginia Wesleyan College |
Buckhannon, W.Va. |
Dawn Johnson |
KIPP DC: KEY Academy |
Washington, D.C. |
Brandon Johnson |
Wichita Heights High School |
Wichita, Kan. |
Valerie Jones |
Helen B. Duffield Elementary School |
Ronkonkoma, N.Y. |
Deanna Joseph |
Georgia State University |
Atlanta |
James Kachulis |
Berklee College of Music, NYC Public Schools |
Boston |
Jim Kirkpatrick |
West Forsyth High School |
Clemmons, N.C. |
Barbara Klemp |
Chatham High School |
Chatham, N.J. |
Kent Knappenberger |
Westfield Academy and Central School |
Westfield, N.Y. |
Jamie Knight |
Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts |
Huntington Beach, Calif. |
Jee Yeoun Ko |
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts |
New Orleans |
Kathrine Kouns |
Horizon High School |
Scottsdale, Ariz. |
Ingrid Kovacs |
Canarelli Middle School |
Las Vegas |
Mark Kraft |
South Brunswick High School |
Monmouth Junction, N.J. |
Gordon Krauspe |
Wheaton Warrenville South High School |
Wheaton, Ill. |
Danielle Krison Hyland |
Val Vista Academy |
Gilbert, Ariz. |
Dana Lamb |
Cleveland Elementary School |
Fayetteville, Ga. |
John Landers |
Patch High School |
APO, N.Y. |
Camilla Larson |
Little Falls Community High School |
Little Falls, Minn. |
Spencer Lau |
Woodruff Middle School |
Seabrook, N.J. |
Angel Lawrie |
Summit Academy Middle School |
Akron, Ohio |
Rebecca Leonard |
Kelly Mill Middle School |
Blythewood, S.C. |
Jeffrey Link |
Berkshire Community College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts |
Pittsfield, Mass. |
Brian Logan |
Wheeling High School |
Wheeling, Ill. |
Terry Lowry |
Oak Mountain Academy |
Carrollton, Ga. |
Dr. Eva Diane Lyle-Smith |
Dr. Brimm Medical Arts High School |
Camden, N.J. |
Anthony Maiello |
George Mason University |
Fairfax, Va. |
Richard Marchetti |
West Warwick High School |
West Warwick, R.I. |
Dean Marino |
West Port High School |
Ocala, Fla. |
Amy Martin |
North Dorchester Middle School |
Hurlock, Md. |
Mathilda Martin |
Broussard Middle School |
Broussard, La. |
John Mastroianni |
William H. Hall High School |
West Hartford, Conn. |
Donna Mateyka |
West Essex Regional Middle School |
North Caldwell, N.J. |
Kevin Mayse |
Riverside City College |
Riverside, Calif. |
Anthony Mazzocchi |
Montclair State University |
Montclair, N.J. |
Regina McAllen |
Howell High School |
Farmingdale, N.J. |
Ron McBain |
Open Magnet Charter School |
Los Angeles |
Glen McCarthy |
George Mason University |
Fairfax, Va. |
Dawn McInroy |
Canisteo Greenwood Central School |
Canisteo Greenwood, N.Y. |
Theresa McKibben |
Edgewood Elementary School |
Homewood, Ala. |
Dr. Brian McLaughlin |
West Milford High School |
West Milford, N.J. |
Danielle McRoy |
Half Hollow Hills High School East |
Dix Hills, N.Y. |
Rich Medd |
West High School |
Iowa City, Iowa |
Dan Meeks |
Shawnee High School |
Lima, Ohio |
Sonora Mello |
Antelope High School |
Antelope, Calif. |
Justin Merrick |
Stax Music Academy |
Memphis, Tenn. |
Chris Miller |
MItchell High School |
Mitchell, S.D. |
John Mobilio |
Waterbury Arts Magnet School |
Waterbury, Conn. |
Angelo Moreno |
Davis Senior High School |
Davis, Calif. |
Charles Morgan |
Joliet Junior College |
Joliet, Ill. |
Josh Murray |
Rio Americano High School |
Sacramento, Calif. |
Thomas Nagy |
Cambria Elementary School |
Ebensburg, Pa. |
Laura Nelson |
Orangewood Christian School |
Maitland, Fla. |
Stephanie Nelson |
Liberty-Eylau High School |
Texarkana, Texas |
Peter Neu |
Pennbrook Middle School |
North Wales, Pa. |
Todd Nichols |
Roxbury High School |
Succasunna, N.J. |
Richard Nickerson |
Windham High School |
Windham, Maine |
Stephanie Nixdorf |
Suncoast Community High School |
Riviera Beach, Fla. |
Eugene Novotney |
Humboldt State University |
Arcata, Calif |
Dustin Olsen |
Hot Springs County High School |
Thermopolis, Wyo. |
Michael Ortiz |
Bellalago Academy |
Kissimmee, Fla. |
Dee Dee Paakkari |
John Marshall High School |
Los Angeles |
Jeremy Parker |
Bixby High School |
Bixby, Okla. |
Pasquale Pascaretti |
Fraser High School |
Fraser, Mich. |
Ferdinand Pasqua |
Harrison High School |
Harrison, N.Y. |
Sarah Payne |
Bryan Station Middle School |
Lexington, Ky. |
Jerry Phelps |
Democracy Prep Endurance Middle School |
New York, N.Y. |
Vonda Phillips |
Mountain View High School |
Mt. View, Wyo. |
Kenneth Piascik |
Black River Middle School |
Chester, N.J. |
Juan Pineda |
Academy for Performing Arts |
Scotch Plains, N.J. |
Joseph Puzzo |
Arlington Science Focus School |
Arlington, Va. |
Debra Reilly |
Orefield Middle School, Springhouse Middle School |
Allentown, Pa. |
Kathy Rohrs |
Chaminade College Preparatory Middle School |
Chatsworth, Calif. |
Audrey Rome |
Roosevelt Middle School |
Roosevelt, N.Y. |
Les Rose |
Dos Pueblos High School |
Goleta, Calif. |
Tarik Rowland |
Tri-Cities High School |
East Point, Ga. |
Thomas Ruggieri |
Boardman High School |
Youngstown, Ohio |
Kevin Rush |
Brockway High School |
Brockway, Pa. |
Joseph Rutkowski |
John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School |
Great Neck, N.Y. |
Patty Sampson |
West Aurora High School |
Aurora, Ill. |
Peter Sampson |
Whiteland Community High School |
Whiteland, Ind. |
Dr. James Satterwhite |
Nashville School of the Arts |
Nashville, Tenn. |
Cindy Scarberry |
Norman High School |
Norman, Okla. |
Eric Schaberg |
Randolph High School |
Randolph, N.J. |
Benita Scheckel |
Blair Middle and High School |
Pasadena, Calif. |
Joanne Scott |
Fairfield Center School |
Fairfield, Vt. |
Laurie Scott |
The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas Middle School |
Austin, Texas |
Michael Sewell |
Pickerington High School Central |
Pickerington, Ohio |
Matthew Shaftel |
Florida State University College of Music |
Tallahassee, Fla. |
Keven Shepherd |
Miller Grove High School |
Lithonia, Ga. |
Karl Siewertsen |
John H. West Elementary School |
Bethpage, N.Y. |
Stephanie Skizas |
Glenbard South High School |
Glen Ellyn, Ill. |
Nathan Sletten |
Earlham Middle and High School |
Earlham, Iowa |
Michael Smith |
Nyack High School |
Upper Nyack, N.Y. |
Timothy Sterner |
J. P. McCaskey High School |
Lancaster, Pa. |
Erin Stroup |
Lower Moreland Twp. High School |
Huntingdon Valley, Pa. |
William David Stufft |
Toccoa Falls College |
Toccoa Falls, Ga. |
Jeremy Taylor |
Old Saybrook High School |
Old Saybrook, Conn. |
Sandra Thornton |
Anderson High School |
Cincinnati |
Bill Tiberio |
Fairport High School |
Fairport, N.Y. |
Frank Timmerman |
Pebblebrook High School |
Mableton, Ga. |
Christy Todd |
Rising Starr Middle School |
Fayetteville, Ga. |
Peter Toews |
Mountain View High School |
Loveland, Colo. |
Robert Traugh |
Norwin High School |
North Huntingdon, Pa. |
Kristina Turpin |
Pinecrest School Simi Valley |
Simi Valley, Calif. |
David Tyson |
Murray Middle School |
Wilmington, N.C. |
Dan Venner |
Central Elementary |
Chillicothe, Mo. |
Steve Vutsinas |
Grassfield High School |
Chesapeake, Va. |
Meghan Wagner |
Auburn Riverside High School |
Auburn, Wash. |
Ben Wahlund |
Naperville Central High School |
Naperville, Ill. |
Jo Wallace-Abbie |
Plano West Senior High School |
Plano, Texas |
Russ Weaver |
Osceola County School for the Arts |
Kissimmee, Fla. |
Todd Wedge |
San Francisco School of the Arts |
San Francisco |
Mary Jo West |
George Mason High School |
Falls Church, Va. |
Kristi Wicihowski |
Nathan Hale High School |
West Allis, Wis. |
Richard Wiederman |
Setauket Elementary School |
Setauket, N.Y. |
Ken Wiele |
Indian Trail High School and Academy |
Kenosha, Wis. |
Dustin Wiley |
Firelands High School |
Oberlin, Ohio |
Kelly Winovich |
Northgate Middle/Senior High School |
Pittsburgh |
Daniel Wooten |
Niceville High School |
Niceville, Fla. |
Mark Wurtzel |
Pershing Middle School |
Houston |
Davey Yarborough |
Duke Ellington for the Arts |
Washington, D.C. |
Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry |
Siegel Middle School |
Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
Kari Zamora |
Faubion Middle School |
McKinney, Texas |
Bridget Zimmermann |
Barretts Elementary School |
Manchester, Mo. |
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 1989 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 are partnering 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 2014. 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 at www.facebook.com/grammyintheschools, follow the GRAMMY Foundation on Twitter @GRAMMYFdn at www.twitter.com/GRAMMYFdn and join us on Instagram @GRAMMYFdn at www.instagram.com/GRAMMYfdn.
America's schools have earned more than $525 million through all Box Tops for Education® earnings programs since the program started in 1996, including $47 million just since March 2012. More than 90,000 schools use that cash to purchase items such as computers, library books, art supplies and playground equipment. Schools can earn up to $20,000 by clipping Box Tops coupons from 240 products and can earn eBoxTops by shopping online through the Box Tops Marketplace. To learn more and for a list of participating products, visit www.btfe.com. Facebook at www.facebook.com/BoxTopsforEducation, Twitter at www.twitter.com/BTFE and YouTube.
Converse Inc., based in N. 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 78 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit media.converse.com.
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 40 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:
Christina Cassidy/GRAMMY Foundation/310.581.8670/christina.cassidy@grammy.com
Hannah Berryman/GRAMMY Foundation/310.581.8724/hannah.berryman@grammy.com
For Ford Motor Company Fund: Edna Sims-Bruce/ESP Public Relations/310.827.9727/ESPPR@aol.com
Program Contact:
Kellyn Robison/GRAMMY Foundation/310.581.8605/kellyn.robison@grammy.com
