Dublin High School's Band Director Nominated for GRAMMY Music Educator Award

Dublin High School's music director has been nominated for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Paul Everts, who has been at Dublin High School since 2008, was nominated for the prestigious award as a favorite music teacher.

According to the GRAMMY website, to be nominated for the annual award, a music teacher must meet certain criteria including: making lasting contributions to music education, making an impact in their school, showing commitment and being the best in their field.

An application was sent in on behalf of Everts by Jonathan Hur for the GRAMMY's Music Educator Award.

Since Everts' appointment as director, the music program has grown from 56 members to 112 members. The Dublin High School Concert Band also played at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2012 under Everts' teachings.

In an email, Everts said he was "speechless" to hear about his nomination and said that the "students' program could receive money if he is selected."

Dublin High's Principal, Carol Shimizu, said Everts is a passionate music educator who is building a high-caliber program at Dublin High.

Shimizu wrote, via email:

"He works tirelessly to achieve excellence. An example of his exuberance is the performance opportunities he seeks for our students. Last spring, our band performed at New York's Carnegie Hall and Central Park. This was a musical trip of a lifetime for our students, parents and staff.  More experiences of this nature are in the planning as Paul looks toward future opportunities to highlight the talent of our musicians. Paul is a one-man show, teaching both instrumental and choral music. As our school grows and student interest in music increases, we anticipate adding staff to the music department and building a comprehensive music program to occupy our soon-to-open Center for the Performing Arts. This will be a dream come true for Paul."

Ten finalists will be selected and if Everts wins the award, he will be given a monetary grant of $10,000 and will go to Los Angeles to attend a Special Merit Awards Ceremony during GRAMMY Week 2014. The other nine finalists win a $1,000 honorarium.

According to GRAMMY, the award was created is "to bring attention and recognition to the teaching profession in general and to school music teachers in particular."

Other Patch articles about Everts:

• Little Band in the Big Apple

• Meet Teacher Paul Everts

• Why Jazzin' For a Cure Meant So Much

• Dublin High Marching Band Back in the Ring