Recording Academy Announces Finalists For First Music Educator Award

The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation have announced the 10 finalists for its first-ever Music Educator Award. Ten music teachers from ten cities across eight states were chosen as finalists for the award, out of more than 30,000 initial nominations.

The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college, public and private) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to music education and who demonstrate a commitment to maintaining music education in the schools. The special award will have its inaugural presentation at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception honoring recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical Grammy Award during Grammy week in 2014.

One recipient will be selected from 10 finalists each year, and flown to Los Angeles to accept the award, attend the 56th 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.

10 Music Educator Finalists:
Lisa Bianconi of Kurn Hattin Homes for Children in Westminster  Vt.
Charles Cushinery of Ed W. Clark High School in Las Vegas
Andrew DeNicola of John P. Stevens High School in Edison, N.J.
Vivian Gonzalez of South Miami K-8 Center in Miami, Fla.
Kent Knappenberger of Westfield Academy and Central School in Westfield, N.Y.
Kathrine Kouns of Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Glen McCarthy of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
Steve Vutsinas of Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Va.
Jo Wallace-Abbie of Plano West Senior High School in Plano, Texas
Mary Jo West of George Mason High School in Falls Church, Va.