University of Arkansas professor Jeffrey Murdock will receive a $10,000 honorarium with a matching school grant. (photo courtesy of the Grammy Museum)

Jeffrey Murdock of the University of Arkansas has been named the 2021 Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum. In addition, nine music teachers were announced as finalists for the award. Initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.

The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college in 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 schools.

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 2021 honoree were recognized during Grammy week. The winner will also receive a $10,000 honorarium with a matching school grant. The nine additional finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium and their schools will also receive matching grants.

The grants provided to the finalists and 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.

For information and to view the full list of 2021 nominees, visit grammymuseum.org. To nominate a candidate for the 2022 Music Educator Award, visit grammymusicteacher.com.