DeSoto High School Choir Director Pamela Dawson has been named one of the 10 finalists for the 2021 Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum’s Music Educator Award, 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 maintaining music education in the schools.
Chosen from nearly 2,000 initial nominations for the annual award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum, Dawson also received a $1,000 honorarium.
“I am so honored to have been nominated for this prestigious award,” Dawson said. “God has given me the gift of music and has called me to teach. I continually challenge my students to attain success not only musically but in every aspect of their lives.”
Pamela Dawson has served as the head choral director for the award winning program at DeSoto High since 2007, growing the program to 200 students. Graduates from her DHS choir programs have experienced success in various college and professional music programs around the country. In addition to her work at DeSoto High School, Dawson has served on and chaired the DeSoto Arts Commission, establishing the now signature program DeSoto Arts LIVE event celebrating all arts genres with featured entertainers like Midnight Star and Ruben Studdard.
The 2021 Grammy Music Educator award winner will receive a $10,000 honorarium, be flown to Los Angeles and presented during the Grammy awards ceremonies in January.
