STEPHEN T. COX NAMED RECIPIENT OF THE 2022 MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD™, PRESENTED BY THE RECORDING ACADEMY AND GRAMMY MUSEUM

 

COX AND NINE FINALISTS WILL RECEIVE CASH HONORARIUMS, WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT AND RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE GRAMMY MUSEUM®'S EDUCATION CHAMPION FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND VIEW THE AUDITION VIDEO:

WHO:  Stephen T. Cox of Eastland High School in Eastland, Texas, is the recipient of the 2022 Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy® and GRAMMY Museum®. In addition, nine music teachers have been announced as finalists for the award. Initial nominations were submitted from 49 states. A complete list of the recipients is below.   Music Educator Award Winner   School   City   State Stephen T. Cox Eastland High School Eastland Texas   Finalists                                  School                                                            City                             State Justin Antos                            Dwight D. Eisenhower High School                Frankfort                      Illinois  Michael Coelho                       Ipswich High School                                       Newburyport                Massachusetts Cory Joy Craig                        Benton Intermediate School                           Benton                         Louisiana Chris Maunu                            Arvada West High School                              Arvada                         Colorado Trevor Nicholas                       Senn Arts at Nicholas Senn High School      Chicago                        Illinois Zachary Pitt-Smith                  Edna Brewer Middle School                           Oakland                       California Bethany Robinson                  Noblesville High School                                  Noblesville                   Indiana Katie Silcott                            Olentangy Shanahan Middle School               Lewis Center               Ohio Tammy Yi                                Chapman University                                       Orange                        California   WHAT: The Music Educator Award recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the music education field and demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. The recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY® Week 2022.   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. They will receive a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for their school's music program. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium and matching grants. The remaining 15 semifinalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants.   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.

Nominations and applications for the 2023 Music Educator Award are now open via www.grammymusicteacher.com.

ABOUT STEPHEN COX Stephen T. Cox is the director of bands at Eastland High School in Eastland, Texas. A graduate of Howard Payne University, he is a big believer in small schools, small communities and the students that are found there. Mr. Cox has been featured in the School Band and Orchestra Magazine's 50 Directors who make a difference and has been a three-time top 10 finalist for the Recording Academy Music Educator Award. As a speaker he has given clinics on the topics of educational technology, community engagement, small school education, and preparing students for majoring in music at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the Technology Institute for Music Education, Minnesota Bandmasters Association, and the Midwest Clinic. In his time at Eastland, the high school band has been a consistent UIL sweepstakes band, advanced to state marching contest, won multiple State OPS concert band titles, and performed as a demo group for the Midwest clinic and Texas Bandmasters Association conventions. He currently serves on the Eastland Fine Arts Association Board and organizes an annual Jazz Festival in Eastland. In his free time he loves researching local history and making educational resources. Most importantly, Mr. Cox is married to Eastland High School art teacher Stephanie Cox and father to Aubree, Chuck and Caesar as well as two parrots Henri and Gus, and Nellie, the world's most stubborn (and adorable) dog.