Nearly Half of the 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator AwardTM Quarterfinalists Are NAfME Members
The Music Educator Award Is Presented by
The Recording AcademyTM and the GRAMMY Museum®
The Recording Academy™ and GRAMMY Museum® has announced 207 quarterfinalists for the 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator Award™, and of that number, 89 are currently members of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME)*. Nominations from 180 cities were submitted. In addition to the quarterfinalists, 125 legacy applicants from 2022 will also be eligible to win the award this year, and of that number, 60 are currently members of NAfME*. From elementary general music teachers to band directors, choral conductors, string teachers, and college professors, NAfME congratulates these exemplary, dedicated music educators.
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. The recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY Week 2023, which takes place ahead of the 2023 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 65th GRAMMY Awards.
The tenth honoree will also be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 65th GRAMMY Awards® and a range of GRAMMY Week events. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants. Additionally, 15 semifinalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants, all made possible by the GRAMMY Museum’s Education Champion Ford Motor Company Fund. The National Association for Music Education supports this program through outreach to music education supporters.
Semifinalists will be announced later this year.
Seven of the previous nine GRAMMY Music Educator honorees, Kent Knappenberger, Jared Cassedy, Phillip Riggs, Keith Hancock, Melissa Salguero, Jeffery Redding, and Mickey Smith Jr. are NAfME members. The 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator Award recipient was Jeffrey Murdock, associate professor of music at the University of Arkansas. The 2022 GRAMMY Music Educator Award recipient was Stephen Cox, band director at Eastland High School in Eastland, Texas.
Learn more about the Music Educator AwardTM process, and nominate a music educator by March 15.
Below is a list of NAfME members who have been named quarterfinalists for the 2023 Music Educator Award. Click here for the full list of 207 quarterfinalists.
|
Brandon |
Kiesgen |
Perry High School |
Gilbert |
Arizona |
|
Tracy |
Meldrum |
Verrado High School |
Buckeye |
Arizona |
|
Aaron |
Vogel |
Mountain Ridge High School |
Glendale |
Arizona |
|
Sarah |
Labovitz |
Arkansas State University |
Jonesboro |
Arkansas |
|
John |
Burn |
Homestead High School |
Cupertino |
California |
|
Lawrence |
Stoffel |
California State University, Northridge |
Los Angeles |
California |
|
Alexis |
True |
Thomas Downey High School |
Modesto |
California |
|
Jasmine |
Faulkner |
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School |
Fort Collins |
Colorado |
|
Wayne |
Splettstoeszer |
Torrington High School |
Torrington |
Connecticut |
|
Heather |
Akers |
Central Middle School |
Dover |
Delaware |
|
John |
Gordon |
Odessa High School |
Townsend |
Delaware |
|
Jeffrey |
Leager |
Central Middle School |
Dover |
Delaware |
|
Ryan |
Moseley |
Appoquinimink High School |
Middletown |
Delaware |
|
Joshua |
Krohn |
Brent Elementary School |
Washington |
District of Columbia |
|
Heather |
Bice |
Ridgeview High School |
Orange Park |
Florida |
|
Alexander |
Busby |
Oviedo High School |
Oviedo |
Florida |
|
Ernesta |
Chicklowski |
Roosevelt Elementary |
Tampa |
Florida |
|
Jessica |
Gronberg |
Hawkes Bluff Elementary |
Davie |
Florida |
|
Shelby |
Montgomery |
George Jenkins High School |
Lakeland |
Florida |
|
Marcos |
Rodriguez |
Avant Garde Academy of Broward |
Hollywood |
Florida |
|
Kaitlynn |
Tobias |
Lake Asbury Elementary School |
Green Cove Springs |
Florida |
|
Gregory |
Urban |
Dunedin Highland Middle School |
Dunedin |
Florida |
|
Ashleigh |
Spatz |
Burgess Peterson Elementary |
Atlanta |
Georgia |
|
David |
Starnes |
Kennesaw Mountain High School |
Kennesaw |
Georgia |
|
Jonathan |
Steltzer |
Wayne County High School |
Jesup |
Georgia |
|
Elizabeth |
Baker |
Ilima Intermediate School |
Ewa Beach |
Hawaii |
|
Justin |
Antos |
Dwight D. Eisenhower High School |
Blue Island |
Illinois |
|
Bethany |
Robinson |
Noblesville High School |
Noblesville |
Indiana |
|
Heather |
Dipasquale |
Todd County Middle School |
Elkton |
Kentucky |
|
Tina |
Gibson |
Jefferson County Traditional Middle School |
Louisville |
Kentucky |
|
Kris |
Milby |
Greenup County High School |
Greenup |
Kentucky |
|
David |
Moss |
West Hopkins School |
Nebo |
Kentucky |
|
Emmanuel |
Hudson |
Booker T. Washington High School |
Shreveport |
Louisiana |
|
Kylie |
Teston |
Leonardtown High School |
Leonardtown |
Maryland |
|
Aaron |
Bush |
Foxborough High School |
Foxborough |
Massachusetts |
|
Michael |
Coelho |
Ipswich High School |
Ipswich |
Massachusetts |
|
Meredith |
Lord |
Burncoat High School |
Worcester |
Massachusetts |
|
Kevin |
McDonald |
Wellesley High School |
Wellesley |
Massachusetts |
|
Kelly |
Ford |
Siena Heights University |
Adrian |
Michigan |
|
Cherie |
Bowe |
Pascagoula High School |
Pascagoula |
Mississippi |
|
Tracy |
Resseguie |
Staley High School |
Kansas City |
Missouri |
|
Jordan |
Peters |
Dr. E Alma Flagg School |
Newark |
New Jersey |
|
Jim |
Sheffer |
Medford Memorial Middle School |
Medford |
New Jersey |
|
Maria |
Del Valle Brin |
The Equity Project Charter School |
New York |
New York |
|
Kristin |
Howell |
Syosset High School |
Syosset |
New York |
|
Luis |
Ingels |
BASIS Independent Brooklyn |
Brooklyn |
New York |
|
Hope |
Lewis |
Charles O. Dickerson High School |
Trumansburg |
New York |
|
Brendon |
Lucas |
Nyack Middle School |
Nyack |
New York |
|
Phillip |
McMullen |
Silver Creek Central Schools |
Silver Creek |
New York |
|
Carrie |
Pawelski |
Jefferson Middle School |
Jamestown |
New York |
|
Alice |
Tsui |
New Bridges Elementary |
Brooklyn |
New York |
|
Brian |
McMath |
Northwest Guilford High School |
Greensboro |
North Carolina |
|
Jonathan |
Todd |
Crestdale Middle School |
Matthews |
North Carolina |
|
Tammy |
White |
Kiser Middle School |
Greensboro |
North Carolina |
|
Jeremy |
Overbeck |
Century High School |
Bismarck |
North Dakota |
|
David |
Amos |
Heritage Middle School |
Painesville |
Ohio |
|
Amir |
Jones |
Thomas W. Harvey High School |
Painesville |
Ohio |
|
Katie |
Silcott |
Olentangy Shanahan Middle School |
Lewis Center |
Ohio |
|
Justin |
Britt |
Kingston Public Schools |
Kingston |
Oklahoma |
|
Benjamin |
Noyes |
Hillsboro High School |
Hillsboro |
Oregon |
|
Ryan |
Bulgarelli |
Loyalsock Township High School |
Williamsport |
Pennsylvania |
|
Christina |
Crivelli |
South Fayette Intermediate School |
McDonald |
Pennsylvania |
|
Alex |
Gittelman |
Haverford Middle School |
Havertown |
Pennsylvania |
|
Deanna |
Grandstaff |
Cecil Intermediate School |
McDonald |
Pennsylvania |
|
Allison |
Kline |
Northwestern Lehigh High School |
New Tripoli |
Pennsylvania |
|
A.J. |
Merlino |
Albright College |
Reading |
Pennsylvania |
|
Jenny |
Neff |
The University of the Arts |
Philadelphia |
Pennsylvania |
|
Adam |
Nobile |
Big Spring High School |
Newville |
Pennsylvania |
|
Ronnie |
Ziccardi |
Avonworth Elementary School |
Pittsburgh |
Pennsylvania |
|
William |
Bennett |
Cane Bay High School |
Summerville |
South Carolina |
|
Marcus |
Morris |
Dorman High School |
Roebuck |
South Carolina |
|
Daryl |
Jessen |
Dakota Valley School |
North Sioux City |
South Dakota |
|
Elizabeth |
Carter |
Snowden School |
Memphis |
Tennessee |
|
Francis |
Cathlina |
University of Memphis |
Memphis |
Tennessee |
|
Benjamin |
Easley |
Nolensville High School |
Nolensville |
Tennessee |
|
Marisa |
Frank |
Nashville Classical Charter School |
Nashville |
Tennessee |
|
Jasmine |
Fripp |
KIPP Nashville Collegiate High School |
Nashville |
Tennessee |
|
Natalie |
Pratt |
Brentwood High School |
Brentwood |
Tennessee |
|
Bonnie |
Anderson |
Miller’s Point Elementary School |
Converse |
Texas |
|
Thomas |
Mann |
W. Charles Akins Early College High School |
Austin |
Texas |
|
Ær |
Queen |
Braddock Elementary School |
Annandale |
Virginia |
|
Xochilt |
Melendez Munguia |
Gainesville Middle School |
Gainesville |
Virginia |
|
Annie |
Ray |
Annandale High School |
Annandale |
Virginia |
|
John |
Aguilar |
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School |
Seattle |
Washington |
|
Melanie |
Gunn |
Whitman Middle School |
Seattle |
Washington |
|
Jean-Marie |
Kent |
Roosevelt High School |
Seattle |
Washington |
|
Ailisa |
Newhall |
Inglemoor High School |
Kenmore |
Washington |
|
Eli |
Lambie |
Washington Lands Elementary School |
Moundsville |
West Virginia |
|
Elizabeth |
Steege |
Case High School |
Racine |
Wisconsin |
Below is a list of NAfME members who are among the Legacy Applicants for the 2023 Music Educator Award. Click here for the full list of 125 legacy applicants.
|
David |
Allinder |
Shades Valley High School |
Birmingham |
Alabama |
|
Brandon |
Benson |
J. U. Blacksher School |
Uriah |
Alabama |
|
Jordan |
Ford |
Norwood Elementary School |
Birmingham |
Alabama |
|
Matt |
Martindale |
Shelby County High School |
Columbiana |
Alabama |
|
Alicia |
Mulloy |
Liberty Middle School |
Madison |
Alabama |
|
Ryan |
Gonzales |
James Monroe High School |
Los Angeles |
California |
|
Shanti |
Gruber |
Glenwood Springs High School & Middle School |
Glenwood Springs |
Colorado |
|
Robin |
King |
Fountain International Magnet School |
Pueblo |
Colorado |
|
Michael |
Linert |
Westminster High School |
Westminster |
Colorado |
|
Patrick |
Smith |
Cooperative Arts & Humanities Magnet High School |
New Haven |
Connecticut |
|
Teresa |
Cameron |
Eastside Elementary School |
Lake City |
Florida |
|
Vivian |
Gonzalez |
Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer |
Miami |
Florida |
|
Keith |
Griffis |
Walter L. Sickles High School |
Tampa |
Florida |
|
Monica |
Leimer |
DeLand High School |
DeLand |
Florida |
|
Wes |
Lowe |
The King’s Academy |
West Palm Beach |
Florida |
|
Charles |
Moorer |
McArthur High School |
Hollywood |
Florida |
|
Sarah |
Ruff |
Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts |
Miami |
Florida |
|
Dale |
Duncan |
Henderson Middle School |
Atlanta |
Georgia |
|
Michael |
Huebner |
Kennesaw Mountain High School |
Kennesaw |
Georgia |
|
Sarah |
Todd |
Mary Lyon Elementary School |
Chicago |
Illinois |
|
Michelle |
Bade |
West View Elementary |
Muncie |
Indiana |
|
Justin |
Binek |
Kansas City Kansas Community College |
Kansas City |
Kansas |
|
Robert |
Bertke |
St. Francis School |
Louisville |
Kentucky |
|
Heather |
Dipasquale |
Todd County Middle School |
Elkton |
Kentucky |
|
Emily |
Maurer |
Slidell Junior High School |
Slidell |
Louisiana |
|
Richard |
McCready |
River Hill High School |
Columbia |
Maryland |
|
Marcos |
Carreras |
Springfield Conservatory of The Arts |
Springfield |
Massachusetts |
|
Robert |
Green |
Lakeland High School |
White Lake |
Michigan |
|
Andrew |
Smigielski |
Forrest County Agricultural High School |
Brooklyn |
Mississippi |
|
Keely |
(O’Hara) Abeln |
Parkway South Middle School |
Ballwin |
Missouri |
|
Dustin |
Shrum |
Central Visual and Performing Arts High School |
St. Louis |
Missouri |
|
Cindy |
Stone |
Belgrade Middle School & High School |
Belgrade |
Montana |
|
Eric |
McAllister |
Las Vegas Academy of the Arts |
Las Vegas |
Nevada |
|
Robert |
DeSantis |
Millville High School |
Millville |
New Jersey |
|
Natalie |
Kerr |
Bloomfield High School |
Bloomfield |
New Jersey |
|
Andrew |
Bennett |
Fredonia High School |
Fredonia |
New York |
|
Gregory |
Bennett |
Middletown High School |
Middletown |
New York |
|
Michael |
Blostein |
Averill Park High School |
Averill Park |
New York |
|
Nicole |
Davidson |
Susan E. Wiley Elementary School |
Copiague |
New York |
|
Lauren |
Morabito |
Hendrick Hudson High School |
Montrose |
New York |
|
Jason |
Noble |
Scarsdale High School |
Scarsdale |
New York |
|
Bill |
Tiberio |
Fairport High School |
Fairport |
New York |
|
Matthew |
Brusseau |
Davie County High School |
Mocksville |
North Carolina |
|
Margaret |
Maurice |
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
Charlotte |
North Carolina |
|
Heaven |
Watson-Weary |
Hunter Huss High School |
Gastonia |
North Carolina |
|
Tammy |
White |
Kiser Middle School |
Greensboro |
North Carolina |
|
Christopher |
Clark |
Case Western Reserve University |
Cleveland |
Ohio |
|
Tristianne |
Asbury |
Noble High School |
Noble |
Oklahoma |
|
Angela |
McKenna |
Classen SAS @ NE High School |
Oklahoma City |
Oklahoma |
|
Kevin |
Longwill |
Abington School District |
Abington |
Pennsylvania |
|
Pamela |
Lowell |
Cranston High School East |
Cranston |
Rhode Island |
|
Robert |
Pettigrew |
Westside High School |
Anderson |
South Carolina |
|
Darrell |
Boston |
Loretto High School |
Loretto |
Tennessee |
|
Brandon |
Larsen |
Herriman High School |
Herriman |
Utah |
|
Wanda |
Mitchell |
Hampton High School |
Hampton |
Virginia |
|
Laura |
O’Konski |
Liberty High School |
Bealeton |
Virginia |
|
John |
Aguilar |
Robert Eagle Staff Middle School |
Seattle |
Washington |
|
Andrew |
Bowerly |
Tenino High School & Middle School |
Tenino |
Washington |
|
Jonathan |
Boysen |
Eastside Catholic School |
Sammamish |
Washington |
|
William R. |
Jenks |
South Charleston Middle School |
South Charleston |
West Virginia |
* This number reflects those whose memberships were current at the time of this announcement and is subject to change.
June 17, 2022. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)
