Graphic Courtesy of the Recording Academy
news
Three New Categories Added For The 2024 GRAMMYs: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album & Best Pop Dance Recording
Additionally, two existing categories — Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical — will be moved to the General Field.
African music, alternative jazz and dance pop have been on the GRAMMYs ballot for decades. Now, they’re deservedly getting categories of their own.
The Recording Academy has added three new Categories: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording. These new categories will be introduced at the 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards:
Additionally, the existing Categories of Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical will be moved to the General Field; this significant change will allow all GRAMMY voters to vote in these important, non-genre-specific Categories.
These Category additions and amendments were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy's most recent semiannual Board of Trustees meeting held in May 2023.
"The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process. These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said.
"By introducing these three new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists - and relocating the Producer Of the Year and Songwriter Of The Year categories to the General Field ensures that all our voters can participate in recognizing excellence in these fields,” Mason continued. “We are excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories, while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide."
Here’s a breakdown of the three new GRAMMY Award Categories:
Best African Music Performance
A track and singles Category that recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent. Highlighting regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions, the Category includes but is not limited to the Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres.
Read More: Love Burna Boy & Wizkid? Listen To These 5 African Genres
Best Pop Dance Recording
Recognizes tracks and singles that feature up-tempo, danceable music that follows a pop arrangement. Eligible Pop Dance recordings also feature strong rhythmic beats and significant electronic-based instruments with an emphasis on the vocal performance, melody and hooks. Dance remixes are eligible in the Best Remixed Recording Category only and may not be entered in Best Pop Dance Recording.
Best Alternative Jazz Album
This Category recognizes artistic excellence in Alternative Jazz albums by individuals, duos and groups/ensembles, with or without vocals. Alternative Jazz may be defined as a genre-blending, envelope-pushing hybrid that mixes jazz (improvisation, interaction, harmony, rhythm, arrangements, composition, and style) with other genres, including R&B, Hip-Hop, Classical, Contemporary Improvisation, Experimental, Pop, Rap, Electronic/Dance music, and/or Spoken Word. It may also include the contemporary production techniques/instrumentation associated with other genres.
The Recording Academy accepts proposals from members of the music community throughout the year. The Awards & Nominations Committee, composed of Academy Voting Members of diverse genres and backgrounds, meets annually to review proposals to update Awards categories, procedures and eligibility guidelines.
The Recording Academy is thrilled about these important developments to be debuted at the 2024 GRAMMYs. Keep watching this space for more information about Music’s Biggest Night!
2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Winners & Nominees List
Image courtesy of the Recording Academy
list
2024 GRAMMYs: 4 Things To Know About The New Categories & Changes
The Recording Academy just announced that three new categories will be added for the 2024 GRAMMYs: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording. Here's why these changes are important.
For decades, African music, alternative jazz and dance pop have been nominated for — and winning — GRAMMYs. Now, the Recording Academy is celebrating these impactful sounds like never before.
As announced today, three new categories have been added to Music's Biggest Night: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording. They will be awarded for the first time ever at the 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards.
The initiation of these three categories is far from a technicality; it amounts to a watershed moment for the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Awards. And as with all category additions and amendments at the GRAMMYs, changes like these open up the prospect of GRAMMY wins and nominations to artists from a multitude of backgrounds and across more genres.
Here are four reasons you should be excited about these new categories and changes at the 2024 GRAMMYs.
Popular Music Owes Everything To Africa
If you like rock, hip-hop, blues, jazz, folk music, bluegrass … really, just about every form of American music, then you have the genius of Africa to thank.
Historically, the Best Global Music Album and Best Global Music Performance GRAMMY categories have nominated and awarded African music and artists. Now, the creation of Best African Music Performance category will amplify and expand the reach of African music and its creators.
As recently announced, the Best African Music Performance category "includes but is not limited to the Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres, making this newly announced, exciting category a far-reaching and all-encompassing award.
Which of these distinct sounds will be represented on the first-ever Best African Music Performance nominees list? Watch this space to find out.
Read More: Love Burna Boy & Wizkid? Listen To These 5 African Genres
Crossover Jazz Is Exploding — And The GRAMMYs Reflect This
From The Comet is Coming to Georgia Anne Muldrow to Kassa Overall, jazz artists are increasingly exploring the music's common ground with hip-hop, soul, experimental music, and any number of other genres. As artists continue to expand and experiment within and beyond the genre, jazz remains an evolving sound. A huge win for forward-thinking, genre-straddling jazz artists of all stripes, the newly announced Best Alternative Jazz Album is a reflection of this ever-growing landscape and dynamic sound.
Read More: Samara Joy Won Best New Artist At The 2023 GRAMMYs. What Could It Mean For The Wider Jazz Community?
Dance & Pop Have Long Been Deeply Intertwined
From Beyoncé to Lady Gaga, pop titans have been incorporating elements of dance and electronic music for decades. Now, there's a new, and essential, category that reflects the convergence between these two genres.
As the official Recording Academy statement describes, the new Best Pop Dance Recording category "recognizes tracks and singles that feature up-tempo, danceable music that follows a pop arrangement."
If this kicks up questions about remixes in the dance and electronic landscape, the Academy's got that covered: Dance remixes will continue to live in the Best Remixed Recording category.
All GRAMMY Voters Can Now Vote In The Producer Of The Year and Songwriter Of The Year Categories
In addition to the newly announced GRAMMY categories, the Recording Academy also announced major changes to the General Field categories: Starting at the 2024 GRAMMYs, the Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical categories will be moved to the General Field. This major change now allows all GRAMMY voters the ability to vote in these widely celebrated, non-genre-specific categories.
A reflection of the Academy's commitment to "actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community" and "stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape," according to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., this move ensures that all GRAMMY voters can participate in recognizing excellence in these definitive categories, further expanding representation and participation in these categories.
At the 2023 GRAMMYs, the Recording Academy introduced the Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical category; Tobias Jesso Jr. made history by becoming the first-ever GRAMMY winner of that award.
Keep checking GRAMMY.com for more news and updates about the 2024 GRAMMYs!
Photo Courtesy of the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum
news
212 Quarterfinalists Announced For The 2024 Music Educator Award
The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum have announced the quarterfinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award, which recognizes educators who have made a significant contribution and demonstrate a commitment to music education.
Today, the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum have announced a total of 212 music teachers as quarterfinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award, which recognizes current educators — kindergarten through college across 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. The quarterfinalists, who hail from 197 cities, were selected from more than 2,000 initial submitted nominations. In addition to the quarterfinalists, 123 legacy applicants from 2023 will also be eligible to win the Music Educator Award this year.
Semi-finalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award will be announced this September. The ultimate recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY Week 2024.
A joint partnership and presentation between the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum, the Music Educator 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 10th annual honoree will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards, as well as 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.
Read More: 8 Artists Who Were Inspired By Their Teachers: Rihanna, Adele, Jay-Z & More
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.
Learn more about the Music Educator Award.
See the full list of the 2024 Music Educator Award quarterfinalists and legacy applicants below:
2024 MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD QUARTERFINALISTS
Name | School | City | State | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Casie Adams | Martinsburg High School | Martinsburg | West Virginia | |
Bruce Adams | Sam Houston High School | San Antonio | Texas | |
Miguel Aguiar | Southwest High School | San Antonio | Texas | |
Derek Alexander | Orville Bright Elementary School | Chicago | Illinois | |
Dawn Amthor | Wallkill Senior High School | Wallkill | New York | |
Jonathan Anderson | University High School (Volusia) | Orange City | Florida | |
Christopher Andrews | Hephzibah High School | Hephzibah | Georgia | |
Jeanne Andrews | Pauline J. Petway Elementary School | Vineland | New Jersey | |
Justin Antos | Dwight D. Eisenhower High School | Blue Island | Illinois | |
Javier Arau | New York Jazz Academy | New York | New York | |
Andrea Armour | Christian County Middle School | Hopkinsville | Kentucky | |
Timothy Arnold | Orono High School | Long Lake | Minnesota | |
Shawn Athey | Veterans Memorial High School | Corpus Christi | Texas | |
Elizabeth Baker | Mary Martin Elementary | Weatherford | Texas | |
Jeremy Bartunek | Greenbriar School | Northbrook | Illinois | |
Adem Birson | New York University | New York | New York | |
Benjamen Blasko | Lipscomb University | Nashville | Tennessee | |
Amanda Blevins | Tri-Valley High School | Dresden | Ohio | |
Susan Boddie | Valdosta State University | Valdosta | Georgia | |
Adrain Bonner | Lancaster High School | Lancaster | Texas | |
Cherie Bowe | Pascagoula High School | Pascagoula | Mississippi | |
Andrew Bowerly | Tenino High School | Tenino | Washington | |
George Bradshaw | Dover Area High School | Dover | Pennsylvania | |
Gwendolyn Brazier | Lathrop High School | Fairbanks | Alaska | |
Steve Browne | Nashville Community High School | Nashville | Illinois | |
Matthew Brusseau | Davie County High School | Mocksville | North Carolina | |
Ryan Bulgarelli | Loyalsock Township High School | Williamsport | Pennsylvania | |
Cathryn Burt | East Newton High School | Granby | Missouri | |
James Byrn, Jr. | Maconaquah High School | Bunker Hill | Indiana | |
Mary Catherine Campbell | Seven Pines Elementary | Sandston | Virginia | |
Helen Capehart | Bridgeport High School | Bridgeport | Texas | |
Marcos Carreras | Conservatory of The Arts | Springfield | Massachusetts | |
Michael "Patrick" Carte | Scott High School | Madison | West Virginia | |
Curtis Carver | Harlem High School | Harlem | Georgia | |
Roger Chagnon III | Westfield Academy and Central School | Westfield | New York | |
Kristopher Chandler | Gautier High School | Gautier | Mississippi | |
Jeff Chang | Decatur High School | Federal Way | Washington | |
Krista Clay | West Branch High School | Beloit | Ohio | |
Travis Coakley | William Carey University | Hattiesburg | Mississippi | |
Vanessa Cobb | Montgomery Central High School | Cunningham | Tennessee | |
Mark Collins | John S. Battle High School | Bristol | Virginia | |
Trish Conover | Community Middle School | Plainsboro | New Jersey | |
John Contreras | Pueblo High School | Tucson | Arizona | |
Kyle Cook | Western Branch Middle School | Chesapeake | Virginia | |
Travis Cook | Plymouth Christian Academy | Canton | Michigan | |
Daniel Cook | University of North Texas | Denton | Texas | |
Andrew Cote | Merrimack College | North Andover | Massachusetts | |
Drew Cowell | Belleville East High School | Belleville | Illinois | |
Cory Craig | Benton Intermediate School | Benton | Louisiana | |
Matthew Cunningham | Brockton High School | Brockton | Massachusetts | |
Shannon Curtis | Zimmerman Middle High School | Zimmerman | Minnesota | |
Isaac Daniel | Stax Music Academy | Memphis | Tennessee | |
Jim Daughters | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau | Missouri | |
Marci DeAmbrose | Lincoln Southwest High School | Lincoln | Nebraska | |
Jackie Deen | Pottsboro High School | Pottsboro | Texas | |
Matthew Denman | Classen School of Advanced Studies | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | |
Ryan Diefenderfer | Paradise Valley High School | Phoenix | Arizona | |
Jennifer DiVasto | Pennridge High School | Perkasie | Pennsylvania | |
Antoine Dolberry | P.S. 103x Hector Fontanez | Bronx | New York | |
George Dragoo | Stevens High School | Rapid City | South Dakota | |
Marisa Drake | Patuxent High School | Lusby | Maryland | |
Kathleen Dudley | Andrew Cooke Magnet School | Waukegan | Illinois | |
Jonathan Eising | James Hubert Blake High School | Silver Spring | Maryland | |
Jonathan Eldridge | Weston High School | Weston | Massachusetts | |
Carol Evans | Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley | Pennsylvania | |
Anthony Ferreira | Suffield High | West Suffield | Connecticut | |
Tamara Frazier | North Valleys High School | Reno | Nevada | |
J.D. Frizzell | Briarcrest Christian School | Eads | Tennessee | |
Chesteron Frye | St. Helena College & Career Academy | Greensburg | Louisiana | |
Nicholas Garofalo | Chattahoochee High School | Johns Creek | Georgia | |
Matt Gerry | Salina South Middle School | Salina | Kansas | |
Anna Girling | Sebastopol Attendance Center | Sebastopol | Mississippi | |
Vivian Gonzalez | Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer | Miami | Florida | |
Johnathan Gore | Sandy Run K8 School | Swansea | South Carolina | |
Serena Gorham | Weare Middle School | Weare | New Hampshire | |
Kylie Griffin | Dozier Elementary | Erath | Louisiana | |
Jess Gronberg | Hawkes Bluff Elementary | Davie | Florida | |
Alan Guckian | Manor High School | Manor | Texas | |
Nathaniel Gunter | Greer High School | Greer | South Carolina | |
Amy Hannequin | Bethel Middle School | Bethel | Connecticut | |
Crystal Harding | Ypsilanti Community High School | Ypsilanti | Michigan | |
Diana Harrigan | Bloom High School | Chicago Heights | Illinois | |
Toye Harris | Miami High School | Miami | Oklahoma | |
Chris Hayslette | Bridgeport Middle School | Bridgeport | West Virginia | |
Colette Hebert | Ella Fitzgerald Academy | Yonkers | New York | |
Martha Heise | Seventh Street Elementary School | Oil City | Pennsylvania | |
Jonathan Helmick | Slippery Rock University | Slippery Rock | Pennsylvania | |
Corey Hermens | Grant County High School | Dry Ridge | Kentucky | |
Joel Hill | Velma Jackson High School and Shirley D. Simmons Middle School | Camden | Mississippi | |
Autumn Danielle Hodges | Clarksville- Kraus Middle School | Clarksville | Arkansas | |
Elaine Holmes | Comsewogue High School | Port Jefferson Station | New York | |
Gene Hundley | Swainsboro Middle School | Swainsboro | Georgia | |
Victor Iapalucci | Philip Barbour High School | Philippi | West Virginia | |
Devin James | Salem High School | Conyers | Georgia | |
Heidi Jaye | Daniel Webster Elementary School | New Rochelle | New York | |
Luke Johnson | Ingalls Elementary | Ingalls | Kansas | |
Jamie Jones | Manzano Day School | Albuquerque | New Mexico | |
Tyler Jones | Thompson Middle School | Alabaster | Alabama | |
Daniel Joosten | Edgerton High School | Edgerton | Wisconsin | |
Brett Keith | Northern Bedford County Middle/High School | Loysburg | Pennsylvania | |
Deonte Kennedy | Craigmont High School | Memphis | Tennessee | |
Matthew Kilby | Fort Dorchester HS | North Charleston | South Carolina | |
Lou Kitchner | Bedford Middle School | Westport | Connecticut | |
Michael Kiyoi | San Marcos High School | Santa Barbara | California | |
Kate Klotz | Monarch High School | Louisville | Colorado | |
Heidi Kohler | Clarence Middle School | Clarence | New York | |
Michael Lapomardo | Shrewsbury High School | Shrewsbury | Massachusetts | |
Michael Lee | Jericho Middle School | Jericho | New York | |
Morgan Lentino | Otter Creek Elementary | Elgin | Illinois | |
Joshua Light | Soddy-Daisy HS | Soddy-Daisy | Tennessee | |
Lisa Linde | Newton South High school | Newton | Massachusetts | |
Wes Lowe | The King's Academy | West Palm Beach | Florida | |
Cole Lundquist | Gloucester High School | Gloucester | Massachusetts | |
Robert Mamminga | St. Francis High School | Wheaton | Illinois | |
Peter Manzi | Carlsbad High School | Carlsbad | California | |
Samuel Maran | Lake High School | Millbury | Ohio | |
Jayson Martinez | Arts High School | Newark | New Jersey | |
Kevin McDonald | Wellesley High School | Wellesley | Massachusetts | |
Jill Melchitzky | Northwestern Middle School | Albion | Pennsylvania | |
Larrian Menifee | Ball High School | Galveston | Texas | |
Kimberly Mettert | East Noble Middle School | Kendallville | Indiana | |
Natalie Moore | Sullivan High School | Sullivan | Missouri | |
Mario Morales | Granbury High School | Granbury | Texas | |
Coty Raven Morris | Portland State University | Portland | Oregon | |
Brian Nabors | Shelby High School | Shelby | Ohio | |
Jenny Neff | The University of the Arts | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | |
Cassandra Nelson | Mountaineer Middle | Morgantown | West Virginia | |
Trevor Nicholas | Senn Arts at Nicholas Senn High School | Chicago | Illinois | |
Adam Nobile | Big Spring High School | Newville | Pennsylvania | |
Sam Noyce | Thomas Jefferson Jr. High School | Kearns | Utah | |
Tim O'Donnell | Ephrata High School | Ephrata | Washington | |
John Panella | Cottondale High School | Cottondale | Florida | |
James Patterson | Kingstree High School | Kingstree | South Carolina | |
Shakia Paylor | City Neighbors High School | Baltimore | Maryland | |
Fernando Penaloza | Savanna High School | Anaheim | California | |
Kathy Perconti | Wayne Central High School | Ontario Center | New York | |
Jordan Peters | Dr. E Alma Flagg School | Newark | New Jersey | |
Catherine Plichta | Theatre Arts Production Company School | Bronx | New York | |
Felix Ponce | Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School | Chicago | Illinois | |
David Pope | Baldwin Wallace University | Berea | Ohio | |
Ær Queen | Braddock Elementary School | Annandale | Virginia | |
Brian Querry | Charles A. Huston Middle School | Lower Burrell | Pennsylvania | |
Rebecca Raber | University of Mary | Bismarck | North Dakota | |
Marc Ratner | Mineola High School | Garden City Park | New York | |
Lance Rauh | Patriot Oaks Academy | St Johns | Florida | |
Hoza Redditt | MSA East Academy | St. Gabriel | Louisiana | |
Heather Rentz | St. Mark Westpark | Cleveland | Ohio | |
Aaron Rex | Mason Middle School | Mason | Ohio | |
Angela Rex | Riverside Middle School | Greer | South Carolina | |
Chris Richard | Rogers Heritage High School | Rogers | Arkansas | |
Sarah Riechers | Thurgood Marshall Elementary School | Manassas | Virginia | |
Stephanie Robertson | Ponchatoula High School | Ponchatoula | Louisiana | |
Bethany Robinson | Noblesville High School | Noblesville | Indiana | |
Keith Robinson | Jefferson Avenue Elementary | Seguin | Texas | |
Alberto Rodriguez | Mount Vernon High School | Alexandria | Virginia | |
Chad Rose | Sheridan High School | Sheridan | Wyoming | |
Stewart Rosen | Walter Reed Middle School | North Hollywood | California | |
Shawn Royer | Marian University | Indianapolis | Indiana | |
Dayshawn Russell | North Iberville Elementary | Rosedale | Louisiana | |
Hannah Ryan | University of Virginia's College at Wise | Wise | Virginia | |
Kyle Ryan | Turkey Hill School | Orange | Connecticut | |
Ashley Sands | Kennedy Secondary School | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | |
Mark Santos | Santa Ana High School | Santa Ana | California | |
Danni Schmitt | Roland Park Elementary/Middle School | Baltimore | Maryland | |
Kevin Schoenbach | Oswego High School | Oswego | Illinois | |
Eric Schultz | Coastal Carolina University | Conway | South Carolina | |
Jessica Schwartz | Denham Springs High School | Denham Springs | Louisiana | |
Josh Settlemyre | R.J. Reynolds High School | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | |
Jason Shiuan | Saratoga High School | Saratoga | California | |
Katie Silcott | Olentangy Shanahan Middle School | Lewis Center | Ohio | |
Kerra Simmons | Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts | Fort Worth | Texas | |
Joani Slawson | Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy | Melbourne | Florida | |
Timothy Patrick Sloan Sr. | Albright Middle School | Houston | Texas | |
Jessie Smith | Yes Prep Public Schools | Houston | Texas | |
Cathryn Smith | Coleman High School | Coleman | Texas | |
Patrick Smith | Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School | New Haven | Connecticut | |
Tony Spano | Culver City High School | Culver City | California | |
Wes Sparkes | Eagleview Middle School | Colorado Springs | Colorado | |
Julian Spires | Meade Middle School | Fort Meade | Maryland | |
Shannon Stem | University Academy | Panama City | Florida | |
Harold Stephan | Stuyvesant High School | New York | New York | |
Cassandra Sulbaran | Braintree High School | Braintree | Massachusetts | |
Lynn Sweet | Mount Anthony Union High School | Bennington | Vermont | |
Agnes Tech | Indian Prairie Elementary School | Crystal Lake | Illinois | |
Chris Toomey | Mineola High School | Garden City Park | New York | |
Tom Torrento | Grosse Pointe North High School | Grosse Pointe Woods | Michigan | |
Jessica Torres | Elmont Memorial Jr. Sr. High School | Elmont | New York | |
Michelle Trinidad | Sacred Heart School | Bronx | New York | |
Alice Tsui | New Bridges Elementary | Brooklyn | New York | |
Jordan Tupper | Episcopal School of Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | |
Martin Urbach | Harvest Collegiate High School | New York City | New York | |
Johny Vargas | Pueblo High School | Tucson | Arizona | |
Amy Villanova | Canyon Crest Academy | San Diego | California | |
Valerie Vinnard | Webster Elementary | Long Beach | California | |
Kenneth Walker | Ralls High School | Ralls | Texas | |
Kathy Wallace | Willard Elementary | Winchester | Indiana | |
Jennifer Walter | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | North Carolina | |
John Ware | Stovall Middle School | Houston | Texas | |
Brandon Weeks | North Polk High School | Alleman | Iowa | |
Lisa Werner | St. Bruno Parish School | Dousman | Wisconsin | |
Scott Weyman | Solanco High School | Quarryville | Pennsylvania | |
Elizabeth White | Holcomb RIII | Holcomb | Missouri | |
Tyler Wigglesworth | West Covina High School | West Covina | California | |
Derrick Williams | Vista Heights Middle School | Moreno Valley | California | |
Paula Williams | The Ron Clark Academy | Atlanta | Georgia | |
Sandi Wilson | Franklin School of Innovation | Asheville | North Carolina | |
Matthew Wiltshire | Lewiston High School | Lewiston | Maine | |
Damion Womack | The Montgomery Academy | Montgomery | Alabama | |
Tammy Yi | Chapman University | Orange | California | |
Nicholas Young | Altus High School | Altus | Oklahoma | |
Jason Younts | Samuel V. Champion High School | Boerne | Texas | |
DeAnna Zecchin | Indian River High School | Dagsboro | Delaware |
2024 MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD LEGACY APPLICANTS
Name | School | City | State |
---|---|---|---|
Phil Aguglia | Kenmore East High School | Tonawanda | New York |
Heather Akers | Central Middle School | Dover | Delaware |
Eric Allen | Western Middle School for the Arts | Louisville | Kentucky |
Calandria Allen | Zachary Community Schools | Zachary | Louisiana |
Abigail Alwin | Clague Middle School | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Michigan |
David Amos | Heritage Middle School | Painesville | Ohio |
Luke Aumann | Appleton North High School | Appleton | Wisconsin |
Elizabeth Baker | Ilima Intermediate School | Ewa Beach | Hawaiʻi |
Andre Barnes | Science Park High School | Newark | New Jersey |
Conesha Barron | Lanier High School | Jackson | Mississippi |
Lyndra Bastian | Creekside Middle School and Woodstock High School | Woodstock | Illinois |
William Bennett | Cane Bay High School | Summerville | South Carolina |
Heather Bice | Ridgeview High School | Orange Park | Florida |
Charlie Bradberry | Iowa Park High School | Iowa Park | Texas |
Justin Britt | Kingston Public Schools | Kingston | Oklahoma |
Shantavia Burchette | East Side High School | Newark | New Jersey |
John Burn | Homestead High School | Cupertino | California |
Alexander Busby | Oviedo High School | Oviedo | Florida |
Aaron Bush | Foxborough High School | Foxborough | Massachusetts |
Meg Byrne | Pleasant Valley High School | Bettendorf | Iowa |
Philip Carter | O'Fallon Township High School | O'Fallon | Illinois |
Elizabeth Carter | Snowden School | Memphis | Tennessee |
Francis Cathlina | University of Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee |
Tiffany Chiang | Mark Twain I.S. 239 | Brooklyn | New York |
Ernesta Chicklowski | Roosevelt Elementary | Tampa | Florida |
Michael Coelho | Ipswich Middle School and Ipswich High School | Ipswich | Massachusetts |
Christine Cumberledge | Central Junior High School | Euless | Texas |
Heather Dipasquale | Todd County Middle School | Elkton | Kentucky |
Jack A. Eaddy, Jr. | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | North Carolina |
Dominique Eade | New England Conservatory of Music | Boston | Massachusetts |
Cuauhtemoc Escobedo | Eckstein Middle School | Seattle | Washington |
Jasmine Faulkner | Polaris Expeditionary Learning School | Fort Collins | Colorado |
Daniel James Felton | Tartan High School | Oakdale | Minnesota |
Nicholas Fernandez | Bentonville Schools | Bentonville | Arkansas |
Cathryn Fowler | Health Careers High School | San Antonio | Texas |
Marisa Frank | Explore! Community School | Nashville | Tennessee |
Jasmine Fripp | KIPP Nashville Collegiate High School | Nashville | Tennessee |
Jacob Garcia | Tennyson Middle School | Waco | Texas |
Jorge L. Garcia | Elias Herrera Middle School | Laredo | Texas |
Tina Gibson | Jefferson County Traditional Middle School | Louisville | Kentucky |
Alex Gittelman | Haverford Middle School | Havertown | Pennsylvania |
Guillermo Gonzalez | James A. Garfield High School | Los Angeles | California |
Mansa Gory | Denzel Washington School of the Arts | Mount Vernon | New York |
Deanna Grandstaff | Cecil Intermediate School | McDonald | Pennsylvania |
Amanda Hanzlik | E.O. Smith High School | Storrs | Connecticut |
Marvin Haywood | John Ehret High School | Marrero | Louisiana |
Kristin Howell | Syosset High School | Syosset | New York |
Emmanuel Hudson | Booker T. Washington High School | Shreveport | Louisiana |
Karla Hulne | Blair-Taylor Middle/High School | Blair | Wisconsin |
Mia Ibrahim | Health Opportunities High School | Bronx | New York |
Luis Ingels | Candor Elementary School | Candor | New York |
Justin Janer | Pinewood School Middle Campus | Los Altos | California |
Daryl Jessen | Dakota Valley School | North Sioux City | South Dakota |
De'Evin Johnson | Duncanville High School | Duncanville | Texas |
Amir Jones | Harvey High School | Painesville | Ohio |
Allison Kline | Blue Mountain Area School | Orwigsburg | Pennsylvania |
Kenneth Kosterman | Rockwall-Heath High School | Heath | Texas |
Joshua Krohn | Brent Elementary School | Washington | District of Columbia |
Sarah Labovitz | Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | Arkansas |
Heather Leppard | Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) | Los Angeles | California |
Hope Lewis | Charles O. Dickerson HS | Trumansburg | New York |
Meredith Lord | Burncoat High School | Worcester | Massachusetts |
Brendon Lucas | Nyack High School | Nyack | New York |
Christian Lucas | Mariners Christian School | Costa Mesa | California |
Alison McCarrey | Romig Middle School | Anchorage | Alaska |
Angie McDaniel | Forest Creek Elementary | Round Rock | Texas |
Ashleigh McDaniel Spatz | Burgess Peterson Academy | Atlanta | Georgia |
Matthew McKagan | Lindero Canyon Middle School | Agoura Hills | California |
Brian McMath | Northwest Guilford High School | Greensboro | North Carolina |
Phillip McMullen | Silver Creek Central Schools | Silver Creek | New York |
Tracy Meldrum | Verrado High School | Buckeye | Arizona |
Xochilt Melendez Munguia | Gainesville Middle School for the Arts and Sciences | Gainesville | Virginia |
Kris Milby | Greenup County High School | Greenup | Kentucky |
Dana Monteiro | Frederick Douglass Academy | New York | New York |
Shelby Montgomery | George Jenkins High School | Lakeland | Florida |
David Moore | Inspire Charter Academy | Baton Rouge | Louisiana |
Ryan Moseley | Appoquinimink High School | Middletown | Delaware |
David Moss | West Hopkins School | Nebo | Kentucky |
Deborah Muhlenbruck-Fleischer | Gunderson Middle School | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Vicki Nichols | Grandview Elementary | Grandview | Texas |
Jeremy Overbeck | Century High School | Bismarck | North Dakota |
John Pachence | Penn State Abington | Abington | Pennsylvania |
Jennifer Page | Niles North High School | Skokie | Illinois |
Matthew Pitts | Robert JC Rice Elementary School | Gilbert | Arizona |
Courtney Powers | Muhammad Ali School 23 | Passaic | New Jersey |
Natalie Pratt | Brentwood High School | Brentwood | Tennessee |
William Rank | Oak Prairie Junior High School | Lockport | Illinois |
Brett Rankin | Wilde Lake High School | Columbia | Maryland |
Annie Ray | Annandale High School | Annandale | Virginia |
Tracy Resseguie | Staley High School | Kansas City | Missouri |
Giovanni Santos | La Sierra University | Riverside | California |
Ruth Schwartz | Chugiak High School and Mirror Lake Middle School | Chugiak | Alaska |
Laura Shapovalov | Walden III Middle and High School | Racine | Wisconsin |
James Sheffer | Medford Memorial Middle School and Haines Sixth Grade Center | Medford | New Jersey |
Matthew Shephard | Meridian Early College High School | Sanford | Michigan |
Dylan Sims | York Middle School | York | South Carolina |
Thomas Slater | Chestnut Oaks Middle School | Sumter | South Carolina |
Michele Slone | Urbana Elementary and Jr. High School | Urbana | Ohio |
Tony Small | St. Vincent Pallotti Arts Academy | Laurel | Maryland |
Andrew Smith | Charlotte Central School | Charlotte | Vermont |
Wayne Splettstoeszer | Torrington High School | Torrington | Connecticut |
Elizabeth Steege | Cass High School | Racine | Wisconsin |
Lawrence Stoffel | California State University, Northridge | Los Angeles | California |
Tyler Swick | Robert and Sandy Ellis Elementary | Henderson | Nevada |
Elizabeth Taylor | La Crosse Elementary School | La Crosse | Virginia |
Cami Tedoldi | Foxborough High School | Foxborough | Massachusetts |
Kylie Teston | Leonardtown High School | Leonardtown | Maryland |
Jonathan Todd | Palisades High School | Charlotte | North Carolina |
Matthew Trevino | Roan Forest Elementary | San Antonio | Texas |
Alexis True | Thomas Downey High School | Modesto | California |
Gregory Urban | Dunedin Highland Middle School | Dunedin | Florida |
Jon Usher | Hidden Springs Elementary | Moreno Valley | California |
Michael Vasquez | Charles L. Kuentz Jr. Elementary | Helotes | Texas |
Aaron Vogel | Mountain Ridge High School | Glendale | Arizona |
Bryen Warfield | Homestead High School | Fort Wayne | Indiana |
Sarah Wehmeier Aparicio | Waukesha South High School | Waukesha | Wisconsin |
Christopher White | Hickory Ridge High School | Harrisburg | North Carolina |
Tammy White | Kiser Middle School | Greensboro | North Carolina |
Tyron Williams | New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities IV | Far Rockaway | New York |
Krista Williams | Floretta P. Carson Visual and Performing Arts Academy | Mobile | Alabama |
Kelly Winovich | Northgate Middle/Senior High School | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
Hayley Winslow | Snow Canyon Middle School | Saint George | Utah |
Ronnie Ziccardi | Avonworth | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
Working For Students: How Music Industry Professionals Find Fulfillment In Education
Photo: Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
list
9 Times Queer Artists Made History At The GRAMMYs: From Elton John's Collab With BSB To Kim & Sam's "Unholy" Union
In celebration of Pride Month, GRAMMY.com has collected nine of the most meaningful and thrilling performances by queer artists from the ceremony’s history, which helped uplift the global LGBTIQA+ community.
The 60-plus years of the GRAMMY Awards encompasses some of the most awe-inspiring and breathtaking moments in music history — and it should be noted that queer performers have produced some of the most dazzling highlights. From Elton John’s 1999 GRAMMY Legend Award to Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ 2023 performance of "Unholy," there is no shortage of iconic queer moments in GRAMMY history.
But more than merely honoring and showcasing queer artists, the ceremony is also the only major award to have moved beyond the outdated gender binary in its categories, an important step in ensuring that every artist feels welcomed. And as queer stars continue to deliver stunning performances in addition to award wins on Music's Biggest Night, young artists have meaningful representation and inspiration.
In celebration of Pride Month, GRAMMY.com has collected nine of the most meaningful and thrilling performances by queer artists from the ceremony’s history. These moments commemorate some of the most impressive artists of the last few decades and helped uplift members of the LGBTIQA+ community around the world.
Elton John & The Backstreet Boys - "Philadelphia Freedom" (2000)
When one LGBTIQA+ icon writes a song that honors another queer trailblazer, it’s bound to make for a special moment on stage.
Performed at the 42nd GRAMMY Awards — the same night the Rocket Man was honored as MusiCares Person Of The Year, and a year after taking home the Legend Award — Elton John performed the bright and swinging "Philadelphia Freedom." With backing from the Backstreet Boys, the performance filled the room with sunshine.
The song was inspired by John’s close friend, tennis icon Billie Jean King. His piano flanked by the five Boys, John delivers a rollicking take on the number one hit, the mythic megastar in top form from every swaggery vocal growl to each thumping piano chord.
Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone - "Piece Of My Heart" (2005)
Melissa Etheridge has always been an incredibly vulnerable artist, but when she walked onto the stage during the 47th GRAMMY Awards, her head bald due to chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer, her legend of raw strength reached a new level.
A loving grin plastered on her face and chopping out an explosive guitar riff, Etheridge didn’t waste a second, joining soul pop star Joss Stone for a tribute to queer icon Janis Joplin. Every syllable of "Piece of My Heart" coming out of Etheridge’s mouth shines sharply like a rough-cut gem, but her explosive howl as the song comes to its climax is the stuff of legend.
The fact that Etheridge made it through her cancer treatment and can still rock stages to this day is only further testament to just how powerful this moment of defiance turned out to be.
Lady Gaga - "Born This Way" (2011)
While the conversation surrounding Lady Gaga’s early ‘10s award ceremony run will always center on her extravagant and boundary-pushing attire and stagecraft, she made sure to put her queer advocacy at full volume during her take on "Born This Way."
Sure, she entered the 53rd GRAMMY Awards in an egg and took time in her performance to play a snippet of Bach made famous in "The Phantom of the Opera" on a keyboard topped with mannequin heads. But in the very next moment, she ensured that the whole track slowed to a righteous halt to deliver a core message: "No matter gay, straight or bi/lesbian, transgender life/ I’m on the right track/ I was born to survive."
The white latex and space egg are important, but Lady Gaga wants to make sure you understand that the art is all in support of a message of inclusion, that stripped down to our strangest basics we’re all human.
Frank Ocean - "Forrest Gump" (2013)
Frank Ocean has proven to be one of the most mercurial stars in R&B, releasing just two studio albums since 2011 despite some of the most rabid anticipation in the music world. His changed plans, canceled performances, and vague updates only fuel that fire — but it’s performances like "Forrest Gump" that encapsulate that whole fandom experience.
The 55th Grammy Awards were a big night for Ocean, with six nominations and two golden gramophones coming his way, but his tender, raw love song was perhaps the most memorable of a night full of impressive tributes and star power. Homosexual love songs don’t get televised too often, and that’s what "Forrest Gump" is: pure, unabashed and straightforward; a young, mesmerizing vocalist and songwriter laid bare, playing a keyboard and backed by a video screen. There’s nothing to distract from his voice and his words: "You run my mind, boy/ Running on my mind, boy/ Forrest Gump."
Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, Madonna & Queen Latifah - "Same Love/Open Your Heart" (2014)
There may not be a bigger performance of queer love in awards history than Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ elaborate staging of "Same Love" from the 56th GRAMMYs. Their performance of the anthem included lesbian vocalist Mary Lambert and queer icon Madonna — oh, and Queen Latifah literally overseeing marriage ceremonies for 33 couples of varying sexual identities and orientations, when same-sex marriage hadn’t yet been federally recognized.
Macklemore and Lewis won big at the ceremony, thanks in large part to inescapable upbeat hip-hop like "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us." But instead of getting everyone in the room with some easy fun, the duo opted for "Same Love" — a track in support of marriage equality and a protest to a tendency towards homophobia in the genre. Together, they provided a powerful statement of acceptance and love that surely opened eyes for audiences around the world.
Kesha, Camilla Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, Julia Michaels, Andra Day, and Bebe Rexha - "Praying" (2018)
The whole world was changing for Kesha on the runup to the 60th GRAMMY Awards. After years of struggle against her alleged abuser and an attempt to fully reclaim her career and life, she had not only taken powerful steps in that direction — she was doing so on Music's Biggest Night.
Her new album, Rainbow, had netted two nominations, and she was asked to perform. She opted for "Praying" (co-written by Ryan Lewis), a paean to the power of change and hope, even in the darkest hours. Surrounded by a cadre of powerful women and clad in white and embroidery of blooming flowers, Kesha’s performance shows a moment of new life and transformation, an inspirational moment that continues to grow with promise of even more new music.
Janelle Monáe - "Make Me Feel" (2019)
Janelle Monáe’s performance at the 61st GRAMMY Awards felt like a celebration of her quest to share her truest self. During a performance of the sensual, stylized, sci-fi epic take on "Make Me Feel," Monáe incorporated snippets of other Dirty Computer highlights into the breakdown — including the line "let the vagina have a monologue" from "Pynk" (probably the first time that request had been made on the GRAMMYs stage).
Her black-and-white clad synchronized backup dancers gave shades of Robert Palmer, but Prince (another Black icon comfortable in gender-fluidity) was the true touchstone. But that’s in no way to say that Monáe is anything but an unparalleled icon of her own, whether on the guitar, in her dance steps, or on the mic.
Lil Nas X - "Dead Right Now"/"Montero (Call Me By Your Name)"/"Industry Baby" (2022)
After years of controversy and criticism (notably from talking heads and members of the public who had or would not listen to his music), Lil Nas X’s performance at the 65th GRAMMY Awards had a real sense of catharsis.
Not that the Georgia-born rapper necessarily needed it — he’s proven plenty capable of pushing back and insisting on his identity on the daily, in social media and interviews. Still, the wide range of styles (both musical and visual) and performance versatility on display that evening felt special. His interstellar take on "Dead Right Now" proved he was capable of rising above all the noise; the hip-swiveling dazzle of "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" showed he was unafraid to show his sensual side; and the stomp-along "Industry Baby" (complete with an appearance from Jack Harlow) demonstrated that Lil Nas X is just flat-out one of the most exciting vocal talents in hip-hop.
Kim Petras and Sam Smith - "Unholy" (2023)
Trans representation on the GRAMMYs stage took a big step forward at the most recent ceremony, thanks to Kim Petras. Not only did the German-born pop star become the first openly trans woman to win a GRAMMY Award, but her blistering performance of "Unholy" with Sam Smith likely ignited more than a little bit of inspiration, intensity, and passion in the viewing audience.
Cast in a red glow, the duo embraced the fires of lust, Petras playing the fiery cage dancer to Smith’s devilish ringmaster. Every second of the performance dripped with sweat and sex, refusing to bow to any expectation or censure, Petras humping a corner of the cage as Smith gyrated around a cane. The smoking hot fever dream more than earned the FCC complaints and the zealous fans who went on to devour more of Smith and Petras’ music.
Photo: Amir Hoissain
video
Global Spin: Cavetown Delivers A Tear-Jerking Performance Of Heartbreaking Track "Better"
British indie pop singer Cavetown narrates the painful emotion of improving your life, but still feeling the internal battle, in this honest performance of "better."
On "better," Cavetown details the bittersweet feeling of making positive life changes, yet still feeling sad. And the most heartbreaking part: he now knows he' may be incapable of making the person he loves happy.
"And I just really wish I didn't have to lie to you/ Start crying in my room/ I wanna be someone who you feel better around/ But I don't know if I can get better for you," he sings in the track's first verse.
In this episode of Global Spin, Cavetown delivers an emotive performance of "better." Live from his home studio, he performs the song with only an electric guitar, amplifying the intimacy of the lyrics.
"Better" is a B-side from Cavetown's latest album, worm food, which vulnerably discusses the British singer's struggles with mental health and his internal monologue in love.
This June, he began his international tour through Europe and the United States. Proceeds from ticket sales and select merchandise will be donated to This Is Home, Cavetown's project that provides funding to foundations to support LGBTQ+ youth in need.
Click on the video above to watch Cavetown's tear-jerking performance of "better," and check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.