Floral Park Music Teacher Honored

Floral Park Music Teacher Honored

Acting music chairperson Mr. Duke has been named one of 213 quarterfinalists for the GRAMMY Foundation’s Music Educator Award.

More than 4,500 nominations were submitted to the Foundation for consideration. The Music Educator Award recognizes kindergarten through college educators who have made a significant contribution to the field of music and who demonstrate a commitment to maintaining music education in schools.

Quarterfinalists are now being considered for semifinalist designations and must submit additional videos and essays, which will be reviewed by the screening committee comprised of music educators and music professionals. If chosen as a semifinalist, the videos and essays will be reviewed by the Blue Ribbon Committee consisting of music education professionals, GRAMMY Foundation Board members and members of The Recording Academy. Nine finalists and a winner will then be chosen and presented their awards during GRAMMY Week 2016. The winner will be flown to the GRAMMY Awards ceremony and receive a $10,000 honorarium. The nine finalists will also receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all ten finalists will receive matching grants.

Mr. Duke came to Floral Park in 2010, where he has taught band before filling in as acting music chairperson this year.  At Floral Park, he conducts the concert band, jazz ensemble and marching band. He also started the school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society.