Directors up for Music Educator Award
A pair of Houston high school band directors are quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum.
Jesse Espinosa from Waltrip High School and Kevin Erickson from J. Frank Dobie High School are among the 216 music teachers nominated for the award. They were chosen from almost 2,000 submissions. The award recognizes 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.”
Espinosa has a bachelor of music from the University of St. Thomas and a masters of educational leadership from Lamar University. He is a former trumpet player for the United States Army Band. He was chosen in 2016 as one of 20 music teachers across the country by Give a Note Foundation and 21st Century Fox as part of their Music Education Idols program.
“I could not ever imagine something like this happening to me,” Espinosa said. “Hopefully, I can continue on, especially for the sake of my students. I would love the world to know and see the amazing work they do in spite of the many hardships they encounter.”
Erickson previously worked as an instructor at the University of Houston, San Jacinto CollegeSouth Campus, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) and Pearland High School.
He has bachelor and master degrees from University of the Pacific and University of Houston, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree.
Erickson was percussion director and arranger for Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, instructed the combined drumlines of the University of Houston and Texas Southern University and collaborated on musical arrangements with Janet Jackson.
He has performed with the Houston Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria in Mexico City, Dave Brubeck, Shania Twain and others.
“I’m incredibly proud to represent Dobie High School, Pasadena Independent School District and our community,” Erickson said. “I’m very fortunate to live and work in a city that has such a vibrant and diverse music scene and overall support for the arts.”
A smaller field of semifinalists will be announced in September, followed by ten finalists. The winner will attend the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards and several Grammy Week events.