Phillip Riggs of North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, N.C., has been announced as the recipient of the third annual Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation. A total of 10 music teachers from 10 cities across eight states were selected as finalists for the award. In total, more than 4,500 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states.

The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college, public and private schools) 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.

Riggs will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony and will receive a $10,000 honorarium. This special award will be presented at The Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards Ceremony (honoring recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award and Technical GRAMMY Award) in spring 2016. The nine other finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants.

"With the creation of this award, The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation are shining a spotlight on the positive and lifelong impact that music educators have on their students," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy. "So many GRAMMY-nominated and GRAMMY-winning artists share with me how a music teacher encouraged them early on, nurtured their talents and helped them realize that a professional career in music was an attainable goal. We are delighted to recognize Mr. Riggs for helping to usher in the next generation of GRAMMY-caliber talent."

"I am truly honored and humbled. Most of my career has been about opening doors for others and working to enable students and fellow teachers to learn and to grow," said Riggs. "My efforts to foster music education in North Carolina stand firmly on the shoulders of numerous students, parents, peers, and administrators in communities that value excellence in music. Music educators are fortunate to have The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation as steadfast supporters of music in all schools and it is exciting to have the opportunity to share the importance of music education throughout the country."

Riggs has taught band and choir at various levels in North Carolina for the past 27 years. He is a recipient of the Exceptional Contribution in Outreach Award presented annually by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors for his work with music programs throughout North Carolina. Prior to his tenure at North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Riggs was the fine arts coordinator at Reagan High School. He became the first faculty member inducted into the Reagan Hall of Fame. Riggs is an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States and China. His professional affiliations include North Carolina Music Educators Association, Nation Association for Music Education, National Band Association, and American School Band Directors Association.

Applications for the fourth annual Music Educator Award are currently online; to nominate a teacher, visit GRAMMYMusicTeacher.com. The nomination deadline for the 2017 Music Educator Award is March 15, 2016, while the teacher application deadline is March 31, 2016.