Ten Teachers from across the U.S. Announced as Finalists for Third Annual Music Educator Award™ Presented by The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation®

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

--()--The Recording Academy:

WHO:

 

A total of 10 music teachers from 10 cities across eight states have been announced as finalists for the third annual Music Educator Award™. In total, more than 4,500 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states. Nominations for the 2017 Music Educator Award are now open at www.grammymusicteacher.com.

 

WHAT:

A joint partnership and presentation of The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation®, 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 quality music education in schools.

 

The inaugural Music Educator Award was announced at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards® in 2013 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 is open to current U.S. music educators, and anyone can nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. Teachers are also able to nominate themselves, and nominated teachers are notified and invited to fill out an application.

 

Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists, in recognition of their remarkable impact on students' lives. The winner will be flown to the host city of the GRAMMY Awards to participate in GRAMMY Week activities and attend the GRAMMY Awards ceremony. In addition, the winner will receive a $10,000 honorarium. The nine other finalists will each 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, Disney Performing Arts, Ford Motor Company Fund, and Journeys. In addition, the National Association for Music Education, the NAMM Foundation and the National Education Association support this program through outreach to their constituencies.

 

Kent Knappenberger of Westfield Academy and Central School in Westfield, N.Y., was the recipient of the inaugural Music Educator Award and was recognized during the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast in a segment featuring Portnow, Seacrest and nine-time GRAMMY winner John Legend. Jared Cassedy of Windham High School in Windham, N.H., was the recipient of the 2015 Music Educator Award. Cassedy was recognized during the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast in a special segment.

 

WHEN:

A complete list of finalists is below. The winner will be announced in February 2016. For more information, please visit www.grammymusicteacher.com.

First Name

 

Last Name

 

School

 

City

 

State

Bonnie Anderson Coronado Village Elementary School Universal City Texas
Krista Fanning Caddo Middle Magnet Shreveport La.
Anne Fennell Mission Vista High School Oceanside Calif.
Frank Gawle Wilton High School Wilton Conn.
Keith Hancock Tesoro High School Rancho Santa Margarita Calif.
Penelope Quesada Lincoln Elementary School Louisville Ky.
Phillip Riggs North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Durham N.C.
Bill Swick Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Las Vegas Nev.
Brayer Teague Downers Grove North High School Downers Grove Ill.
Lois Wiggins Edythe J. Hayes Middle School Lexington Ky.

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 in 2014. Open to current U.S. music teachers in kindergarten through college, the third annual Music Educator Award recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY Week 2016. 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 Boston, 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 and is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries. For more information, visit Media.Converse.com and follow @converse.

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 and Community Services works with community and global partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 65 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life is free, interactive, hands-on safety training focused on skill development and driving techniques, while addressing inexperience, distractions and impaired driving. Innovation in education is encouraged through Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning and other inspiring programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps enlists more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to work on local projects that strengthen their communities and improve people's lives in more than 40 countries around the world. For more information, visit 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.

Contacts

GRAMMY Foundation
Media Contacts:
Hannah Berryman, 310.581.8724, hannah.berryman@grammy.com
Christina Cassidy, 310.581.8670, christina.cassidy@grammy.com
or
Program Contacts:
Dawn Coraci, 310.449.6528, dawn.coraci@grammy.com
Derek Spencer,310.581.1260, derek.spencer@grammy.com

Contacts

GRAMMY Foundation
Media Contacts:
Hannah Berryman, 310.581.8724, hannah.berryman@grammy.com
Christina Cassidy, 310.581.8670, christina.cassidy@grammy.com
or
Program Contacts:
Dawn Coraci, 310.449.6528, dawn.coraci@grammy.com
Derek Spencer,310.581.1260, derek.spencer@grammy.com