A total of 10 music teachers from 10 cities across nine states have been announced as finalists for the second annual 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.
The 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 their schools. The award will be presented at the special merit awards ceremony & nominees reception on Saturday, February 7th, during Grammy week.
Kent Knappenbergerof Westfield Academy and Central School in Westfield, N.Y. was the recipient of the first award last year, recognized during the 56th annual Grammy Awards telecast in a segment featuring Recording Academy Pres./CEO Neil Portnow along with nine-time Grammy winner John Legend and Ryan Seacrest.
The 2015 winner will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the award, attend the 57th annual 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 10 finalists are as follows:
Steven Acciani, Diamond Bar High School, Diamond Bar, CA
William Bennet, Cane Bay High School, Summerville, SC
Jared Cassedy, Windham High School, Windham, NH
Charles Cushinery, Ed. W. Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV
Krista Fanning, Caddo Middle Mahnet, Shreveport, LA
Richard Maxwell, Arcadia High School, Phoenix, AZ
Debra Reilly, Springhouse/Orefield Middle Schools, Allentown, PA
Huber Smith, Maplewood Middle School, Sulphur, LA
Nancie Tobision, Barrington High School, Barrington, IL
Danny Yancey, Martin Gifted & Talented Magent School, Raleigh, NC
