Photo Courtesy: Kelli Gile
2015 Music Educator Award top-ten finalist, Steven Acciani, receives his honorarium, shown (L-R) with Assistant Supt. Dr. Michelle Harold; Assistant Supt. Dr. Matthew Witmer; Grammy Executive Education Director David Sears; Board Members Larry Redinger, Cindy Ruiz and Helen Hall; Principal Catherine Real; and Ford Motor Company Fund’s Dee Dee Boykin.

Staff Reports

Diamond Bar – On Mon., May 18, Music Educator Award Finalist, Steven Acciani, was honored at a presentation by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation at the Diamond Bar High School Theater.

Grammy Foundation Vice President, Scott Goldman, presented honorariums to Acciani and Diamond Bar High School with generous support and resources provided by the Grammy Foundation’s Education Champions Converse, Disney Performing Arts, Ford Motor Company, Journeys, and Microsoft.  Acciani received a $1,000 honorarium, and DBHS received a matching $1,000 grant.

A joint partnership of the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation, 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 the schools.  A total of ten music teachers from ten cities across nine states were finalists for the award.  In total, more than 7,000 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.

Acciani is the Instrumental Music Director at Diamond Bar High School, and has been with Walnut Valley Unified School district for 26 years.