Wiltonian Frank “Chip” Gawle, band director at Wilton High School, has been named a semifinalist for the 2016 Music Educator Award.
Presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation, the third annual award recognizes 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 the schools,” according to the GRAMMY Foundation.
Gawle, who has worked in Wilton High School’s music department for more than 30 years, was one of 25 music teachers selected from more than 4,500 initial nominations submitted from all 50 states.
Each year, one award recipient is selected from 10 finalists, and recognized for his or her impact on students’ lives.
This year’s award will be presented to the winner at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, during GRAMMY Week. The winner will be flown to the host city of the GRAMMY Awards, where he or she will accept the award, attend the awards ceremony and receive a $10,000 honorarium.
The nine other finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants.
The finalists of the 2016 Music Educator Award will be announced in December.
Click here to learn more about the Music Educator Award.