PirateQ 
Pensacola’s own Joshua Kaye was nominated for the 2019 GRAMMY Music Educator Award by the PTA at Hellen Caro Elementary School and is now as a quarterfinalist.
Kaye was selected from 2,800 initial nominees for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. He is among 188 music teachers from 177 cities who have moved on to the semifinalist round.
“I am honored that the PTA at Hellen Caro Elementary has recognized my hard work and dedication to music education, and I appreciate all the support I have from our students and their families, thank you,” said Kaye, the school’s music teacher who earned his associate degree in music education from Pensacola State College.
Kaye went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of West Florida.
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, according to the GRAMMY press release.
The semifinalists will be announced in September. Ten finalists including one winner are recognized each year. The winner will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards in early 2019, receive the Music Educator Award at a ceremony during GRAMMY Week, and receive a $10,000 personal honorarium. Finalists will be awarded a $1,000 honorarium, while semifinalists receive a $500 honorarium.
“Josh is a multi-instrumentalist, teaching numerous instruments,” said Ron Kaye, of Ron Kaye’s Music Instruction in Pensacola. “He also has played in bands of all types and has been an in-demand teacher for our music instruction business since 2006.”
Joshua Kaye also is a state-certified music educator (including Exceptional Student Education) with more than 24 years of musical instrument experience. A regular instructor at Autism Pensacola’s Kids Camp, he also regularly plays the guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussion, piano, mandolin and banjo professionally.
His resume includes being an OPS adjunct professor for UWF ─ teaching guitar, drums, piano and banjo. He also has been a solo performer, and pit musician for musical shows.
“Joshua has made such an impact, not only in our district, but across the state of Florida. He’s very innovative,” said Angela Barberi, Escambia County School District’s fine arts specialist.
“He’s always coming up with ways for his students to have performance based experience and ties in his music program with the academics. He has support throughout the community and brings his passion and love for music to our students.”
From The Escambia County School District
