Watsonville music teacher is Grammy finalist
A Watsonville music teacher is among ten finalists for a Grammy Award.
David Dehner, who teaches music at Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville, is a finalist for the Grammy Foundation’s 2017 Music Educator Award. The names of finalists were announced Thursday on CBS This Morning .
According to the Grammy Foundation, the award recognizes “current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education.”
During his 15 years at Monte Vista, his students have won more first place finishes in statewide competitions than any other school in California.
Dehner says he is humbled by the honor.
“I know that there are incredible music teachers, even in circumstances where music education is not empowered or funded, and they have to work really hard. So to know that I’m in an environment where I can cultivate the arts openly and support it from my administration–to know that I was the one that was chosen to represent all this teacher is really an amazing honor,” said Dehner. Dehner will find out if he has won the Grammy in mid-January. The winner will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 59th Grammy Awards ceremony, as well as other Grammy Foundation events. The Grammy Awards air on CBS February 12 .
