A Maine Family Holiday
The annual holiday celebration starring The Windham Chamber Singers from Windham High School and surprise special guests. This year the performance has a Maine theme to celebrate the bicentennial. Thanks to music educator Rick Nickerson for helping to create this opportunity for the participants and those who are viewing this video. Enjoy!
Grammy Music Education
This is year four that the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation is recognizing a music educator with the Grammy Music Educator of the Year Award. This year one of our very own Maine music educators has been nominated and has advanced to being one of the 25 semifinalists. Rick Nickerson is the director of choral activities at Windham High School where he has taught for 30 years. Rick conducts three choirs, teaches music courses and serves as the music coordinator for the district.
Rick at the 2011 Statewide Arts Education Conference
The award recognizes “educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education.” This is the second time Rick has been nominated, first in 2013, when he advanced to the quarterfinals. Ten finalists will announced in December and one person will be selected to receive the award and be recognized at the 59th Grammy Awards ceremony on February 12, 2017.
Rick has been recognized in the past as the Maine Music Educator of the Year, Maine Distinguished Choral Director of the Year and was runner-up for Maine Teacher of the Year.
In 2011 Rick’s choir provided an excellent performance at the opening of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative Statewide Arts Education conference, Arts Teachers Leading the Way Back to the Future: Arts Assessment for Learning.
Congratulations to Rick and his Windham school district colleagues and community who support the work of music education! We’ll be waiting to hear in December if Rick makes it to the final 10 considered for the Grammy Music Educator of the Year Award! YAHOOOOOOOO!
Rick conducting at the opening of the 2011 Statewide Arts Education conference
Rick conducting at the opening of the 2011 Statewide Arts Education conference
Rick Nickerson up for Grammy Honor
In today’s Portland Press Herald written by Leslie Bridgers
A Windham High School music teacher is up for a new award from the Grammy Foundation.
Rick Nickerson, who is also the director of the school’s chamber singers, is a quarterfinalist for the Grammy’s first-ever music educator award.
The award’s 217 quarterfinalists are from 195 cities in 45 states, according to a press release from the Grammy Foundation.
Music teachers from public and private schools, from kindergarten to college, were eligible for the award, which recognizes teachers “who have made a significant contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools,” the release said.
The winner, selected from 10 finalists, will attend the Grammy Awards and receive $10,000. The other finalists will receive $1,000, as will their schools.
Semifinalists will be named in August.
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