Nineteen current members of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) have been recognized in the group of 25 semifinalists for the Music Educator Award™ presented by The Recording Academy®and the GRAMMY Foundation®.
A total of 25 music teachers from 25 cities across 17 states have been announced as semifinalists 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.
The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (K 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. 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 & Nominees Reception (honoring recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical GRAMMY® Award) on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, during GRAMMY Week.
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 is 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.
This fall, the school of each semifinalist will have the chance to earn an additional $6,000 for their music program through the Ford Drive 4 UR School program. Since the program’s launch in 2007, Ford has donated nearly $25 million to schools around the country through its unique test-drive experience.
– Original Release: www.grammyintheschools.com
NAfME Plays a Role in the Process
Glenn E. Nierman, President and Board Chair of NAfME is slated to participate on the finalist selection committee for the upcoming 2015 Music Educator Award.
NAfME Immediate Past President Nancy E. Ditmer, added the following about her involvement with the previous 2014 Music Educator Award,
“It was an honor to participate in the selection process, both because of the high level of recognition and attention that this will bring to music education and its importance in our schools and in our society. Everyone on the committee was strongly committed to the importance of this award and there was never a question that this will continue and possibly expand in the future.“
– NAfME Immediate Past President, Nancy E. Ditmer
“The process involved reviewing three videos or reading essays for each candidate, then rating them in each of several categories. Ratings were tabulated and used as a starting point for discussion, which then led us to determine the top 10. After that, we were able to narrow the field to a couple of candidates, with in depth discussion leading us to determine the winner for this year,” Ditmer said.
2014 Music Educator Award, Presented to NAfME Member
NAfME Member, Kent Knappenberger of Westfield Academy and Central School in Westfield, N.Y., was the previous recipient of the annual Music Educator Award. Knappenberger was recognized during the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast in a segment featuring Portnow along with nine-time GRAMMY winner John Legend and Seacrest.
“Music education has such an important impact on our cultural fabric,” said GRAMMY Foundation Honorary Chair Ryan Seacrest. “It’s a privilege to join the GRAMMY Foundation and Ford Motor Company to applaud the efforts of our nation’s top 25 music teachers and work with their schools to help raise awareness about the importance of music in schools.”
A complete list of the 2015 semifinalists is below.
The 10 finalists will be announced in December.
* Indicates Current NAfME Membership Status
|
Name |
School Name |
City |
State |
|
* Diane Abrahamian |
Penfield High School |
Penfield |
N.Y. |
|
Steven Acciani |
Diamond Bar High School |
Diamond Bar |
Calif. |
|
* Phil Aguglia |
Kenmore East High School |
Tonawanda |
N.Y. |
|
* William Bennett |
Cane Bay High School |
Summerville |
S.C. |
|
* Jared Cassedy |
Windham High School |
Windham |
N.H. |
|
Caleb Chapman |
Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts |
American Fork |
Utah |
|
* Josh Chodoroff |
Highland Park High School |
Highland Park |
Ill. |
|
Dr. Buddy Clements |
Walnut High School |
Walnut |
Calif. |
|
* Charles Cushinery |
Ed W. Clark High School |
Las Vegas |
Nev. |
|
* David Dehner |
Monte Vista Christian School |
Watsonville |
Calif. |
|
Jamal Dickerson |
Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy |
Camden |
N.J. |
|
* Terry Eberhardt |
Marriotts Ridge High School |
Marriottsville |
Md. |
|
* Krista Fanning |
Caddo Middle Magnet |
Shreveport |
La. |
|
* Elizabeth Fortune |
Washington Middle School |
Seattle |
Wash. |
|
* Vivian Gonzalez |
South Miami K-8 Center |
Miami |
Fla. |
|
* Micah Haven |
Meeker Middle School |
Tacoma |
Wash. |
|
* Aaron Hill Sr. |
Smithfield High School |
Smithfield |
Va. |
|
* Stevi Marks |
Glenbrook South High School |
Glenview |
Ill. |
|
Richard Maxwell |
Arcadia High School |
Phoenix |
Ariz. |
|
* Debra Reilly |
Springhouse Middle School |
Allentown |
Pa. |
|
* Huber Smith * Michael Smith |
Maplewood Middle School Nyack High School |
Sulphur Upper Nyack |
La. N.Y. |
|
* James Story |
Volunteer State Community College |
Gallatin |
Tenn. |
|
Nancie Tobison * Danny Yancey |
Barrington High School Martin Gifted and Talented Magnet Middle School |
Barrington Raleigh |
Ill. N.C. |
Original Release: www.grammyintheschools.com
Complete GRAMMY Music Educator Award information: www.grammyintheschools.com/programs/grammy-music-educator-award
Nominations for the 2016 Music Educator Award are now open.
