WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – And the Grammy goes to West Orange High School’s choral director, Jeffery Redding, Ph.D. That’s how the Florida A&M University alumnus, along with millions watching CBS, heard the announcement that Redding had won the Grammy Educator’s Award.
The award was created to recognize current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education.
Redding, an Orange County native, has been impacting the lives of children through music for 20 years.
“This is where I choose to serve, and I want to give back to, not only my community, all the communities, because someone has always had a part in my success,” Redding said.
Redding has received recognition numerous times, including Teacher of the Year and international choir director awards. He has conducted at Lincoln Center in New York and in Italy.
Redding told CBS News, his students motivate him every day, and he’s proud to share his passion with the world.
“I am nothing without them,” he said. “I can’t make chairs sing.”
As the 2019 Grammy Educator Award winner, Redding was flown to Los Angeles and attended the 61st Annual Grammy Awards to receive the Music Educator Award at a ceremony during Grammy Week. He also received a $10,000 personal honorarium.
