Pamela Dawson Named Recipient of 2023 Music Educator Award

***Press Release***

DAWSON AND NINE FINALISTS WILL RECEIVE CASH HONORARIUMS, WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT AND RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE GRAMMY MUSEUM®'S EDUCATION CHAMPION FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND

LOS ANGELES, CA -(RYM)- Pamela Dawson of DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas, is the recipient of the 2023 Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy® and GRAMMY Museum®. In addition, nine music teachers have been announced as finalists for the award. Initial nominations were submitted from 47 states. A complete list of the recipients is below.

Winner                                    School                                                            City                             State
Phil Aguglia                             Kenmore East High School                            Tonawanda                 New York
 
Finalists                                  School                                                            City                             State
Phil Aguglia                             Kenmore East High School                           Tonawanda                  New York
Ernesta Chicklowski               Roosevelt Elementary                                    Tampa                         Florida
Antoine Dolberry                     P.S. 103 Hector Fontanez School                  Bronx                          New York
Jack A. Eaddy, Jr.                   Western Carolina University                           Cullowhee                   North Carolina
Marisa Frank                           Explore! Community School                           Nashville                     Tennessee
Trevor Nicholas                      Senn Arts at Nicholas Senn High School        Chicago                       Illinois
Matthew Shephard                 Meridian Early College High School               Sanford                        Michigan
Tony Small                             Pallotti Arts Academy                                       Laurel                           Maryland
Alice Tsui                                New Bridges Elementary                                Brooklyn                       New York
 

WHAT:           
The Music Educator Award recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the music education field and demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. The recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY® Week 2023.
 
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. They will receive a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for their school's music program. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium and matching grants. The remaining 15 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.
 
Nominations and applications for the 2024 Music Educator Award are now open via www.grammymusicteacher.com.