Semifinalists Announced for the Music Educator Award™ by the Recording Academy® and GRAMMY Museum®
©Grammy
A total of 25 music teachers from 24 cities across 14 states have been selected as semifinalists for the Music Educator Award™, presented by the Recording Academy® and GRAMMY Museum®. Over 2,400 initial nominations were submitted from 49 states. Nominations for the 2026 Music Educator Award are now open at grammymusicteacher.com.
The Music Educator Award™ recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting impact on music education, demonstrating a commitment to preserving and promoting music programs in schools. The award recipient will be honored during GRAMMY® Week 2025.
This award is open to current U.S. music teachers, and nominations can be made by anyone, including students, parents, colleagues, community members, school administrators, and deans. Teachers can also nominate themselves, and all nominated teachers are notified and invited to submit an application.
Each year, one recipient is chosen from 10 finalists and honored for their exceptional contribution to students' lives. The recipient will receive a $10,000 honorarium along with a matching grant for their school's music program. The nine additional finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium and matching school grants, while the remaining 15 semifinalists will be awarded a $500 honorarium and matching school grants.
The Music Educator Award program, including honorariums, is supported by The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation. Additional support comes from the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, NAMM Foundation, and National Education Association, which assist through outreach to their communities.
The finalists will be announced in December. For further details, please visit grammymusicteacher.com.
All semifinalists are eligible to apply for Professional Membership at the Recording Academy. Members can advocate for the rights of music creators, mentor the next generation of music leaders, submit recordings for GRAMMY consideration, nominate other new members, participate in the election of the Recording Academy governing boards, and more.