Two Teachers Named Grammy Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists

OSWEGO, IL — Two Oswego School District 308 teachers have made it to the quarterfinals for the Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum.

Traughber Junior High School Director of Bands Rachel Maxwell and Oswego High School Co-Director of Bands Kevin Schoenbach were two of 216 music teachers from 199 cities out of nearly 2,000 nominations submitted, according to a news release from the district.

The MEA was established to recognize current educators from kindergarten through college in both private and public 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 musical education in the schools.

The award is open to current U.S. music teachers, and nominations may be submitted by students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, deans, and administrators.

Teachers may also nominate themselves. Nominated teachers are notified and invited to fill out an application.

A joint partnership and presentation of the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum, the winner will be recognized during GRAMMY Week 2021. Semi-finalists will be announced in September.

Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists and recognized for their remarkable impact on students' lives. The winner will fly to Los Angeles to attend the 63rd 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 through 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.

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