Elon alumnus Michael Jefferson is among an elite group chosen from more than 3,300 national nominees.
Michael Jefferson, a 2002 alumnus of Elon University’s music education program, has been named one of 25 national semifinalists for the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum’s 2020 Music Educator Award.
The annual competition recognizes significant contributions to the field of music education and commitment to maintaining music education in schools. Ten finalists will be selected in December. The award recipient will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the Jan. 26 GRAMMY Awards Ceremony and GRAMMY Week events.
Jefferson is the director of bands at Western Alamance High School, where he directs the All-American Brigade Marching Band, the Western Express Jazz Big Band and the Symphonic Band. He is the only North Carolina educator among the semifinalists.
While earning his Bachelor of Science degree, Jefferson was a member of Elon’s then newly formed Fire of the Carolinas. He went on to earn his master of music education at the University of Mississippi in 2004.
Ten Music Educator Award finalists will be named in December.
The award bestows $500 honorariums and matching school grants to all semifinalists. Nine finalists receive a $1,000 honorarium and all 10 finalists receive $1,000 school grants.