200 QUARTERFINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2026 MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD™ PRESENTED BY THE RECORDING ACADEMY® AND GRAMMY MUSEUM®

RECIPIENT, FINALISTS AND SEMI-FINALISTS TO RECEIVE CASH HONORARIUMS, WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT AND RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE CHUCK LORRE FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Music Educator Award™ was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college and 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 2026.

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 12th annual honoree will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 68th 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 semi-finalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants. The Music Educator Award program, including honorariums, is made possible by the generosity and support of The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation.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.