Watsonville teacher is a semifinalist for Grammy’s music educator award

A Watsonville teacher has been named a semifinalist for the 2015 Grammy Music Educator Award.

David Dehner of Monte Vista Christian School is among 25 music teachers selected out of more than 7,000 initial nominations.

(Click here to see the full list of 25 semifinalists)

All semifinalists will have the chance to earn $6,000 for their music department through the Ford Drive 4 UR School program. The 10 finalists will be announced in December.

The winner will be announced during Grammy week 2015 and will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the award and a $10,000 honorarium. The nine finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists also will receive matching grants.

Dehner is the chair of fine and performing arts at Monte Vista Christian as well as the director of vocal arts. According to his bio on the school’s website, he holds a doctorate in voice, musicology and theory from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary School of Church Music and Worship.

For more about the Grammy Music Educator Award, click here.

Nominations for the 2016 Music Educator Award are now open at www.grammymusicteacher.com.