Gary Bernice ’07, ’10 MA of the Springfield (MA) High School of Science and Technology (SciTech), Jason DeGroff 93, ’95MM of the University of New Haven, Jennifer Moss ’01 of Acton-Boxboro (MA) Regional High School are quarterfinalists for 2020 GRAMMY Music Educator Award.
A total of 189 music teachers from 179 cities have been announced as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy™ and GRAMMY Museum®. In total, more than 3,300 initial nominations were submitted.
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 GRAMMY Museum, the recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY® Week 2020.
The award is open to current U.S. music teachers, 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 and recognized for their remarkable impact on students’ lives. The seventh annual honoree will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 62nd Annual 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
Fifteen semifinalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants. The matching grants provided to the schools are made possible by the generosity and support of the GRAMMY Museum’s Education Champion Ford Motor Company Fund. In addition, the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, NAMM Foundation, and National Education Association support this program through outreach to their constituencies.