It felt like deja vu for Benton Intermediate Band Director Cory Craig when she received the email. For the third year in a row, she has made the list of quarterfinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. 

A total of 212 music teachers from 197 cities were announced as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award, Craig being one of them. More than 2,000 nominations were submitted.  

The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators 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. 

Semifinalists will be announced in September. That list will be narrowed to 10 finalists, then one recipient will be selected and recognized for their impact on students’ lives. The 10th annual honoree will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 66th 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. 

Craig has made the list of quarterfinalists three times, advancing to the semifinalist round in 2022. Fingers crossed the third time is the charm.