A total of 25 music teachers from 24 cities across 15 states have been announced as semifinalists 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. The 10 finalists will be announced in December.
The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college, public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.
A joint partnership and presentation of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation, this special award will have its inaugural presentation at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception honoring recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical GRAMMY Award during GRAMMY Week 2014.
One recipient will be selected from 10 finalists and will be recognized for his/her remarkable impact on students’ lives. The honoree will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the award, attend the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony and receive a $10,000 honorarium. The nine other finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium and the schools of all 10 finalists 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, Box Tops For Education, and Journeys with additional support from Universal Music Group.
As announced on the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast by President/CEO of The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation Neil Portnow, TV and radio host/producer and GRAMMY Foundation Honorary Chair Ryan Seacrest, and six-time GRAMMY winner Justin Timberlake, the award was open to current United States music teachers, and anyone was able to nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. Teachers were also able to nominate themselves. All nominated teachers were notified and invited to fill out an application.
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