Following reviews by a panel of national music educators, Dr. Rachel Waddell, Colorado State University Director of Orchestras, was named one of twenty-five semifinalists for the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum’s Music Educator Award. Dr. Waddell was chosen from a national pool of 2,000 initial nominations and is the only semifinalist from the state of Colorado.
“Music educators are among the hardest working humans I know, and it is deeply humbling to be among 25 semifinalists, knowing how many exceptional educators there are within and beyond this pool,” noted Dr. Waddell.
Dr. Waddell maintains a busy profile in the professional and academic worlds, conducting classical, pops, and educational concerts. Her interest in the constantly evolving role and responsibility of orchestras within their communities led her to co-found Conductors for Change, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization for anyone reimagining the future of the American orchestra.
Recently, Dr. Waddell was awarded a CSU Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) grant, which will enable a community-wide partnership with the Colorado Symphony for an afternoon of mock audition panels and sectionals. The grant will enable local high school students to observe and participate in symphony rehearsals so that multi-generational learning can be cultivated. The sectional repertoire will feature Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite (1919), which the orchestra will perform on Dec. 4, 2025. As part of the performance, a new live animation will be commissioned by Dr. Waddell’s friend and colleague, Christine Banna, animation professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Dr. Waddell serves as the recently appointed music director of the Longmont Youth Symphony, and prior to coming to CSU, served as the director of orchestras at the University of Rochester. She has also served as the music director of the Canton Youth Symphonies, which was named the 2025 Youth Orchestra of the Year by the Classics Alive Foundation in Los Angeles.
She has enjoyed working with thousands of students through clinics, school visits, and guest conducting, ranging from elementary school through adult amateurs. A recent highlight was leading the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Orchestra Sinfonietta in Feb. 2025.
Students have praised Dr. Waddell for showing them the possibilities present in teaching, pushing them to new heights while making playing in the ensemble approachable, creating an atmosphere of respect, and providing the example of a conductor that is passionate, hardworking, and inspiring.
“In my estimation, I feel this recognition really goes to my students as they are the ones who push me to grow as an educator, artist, and human. I take their feedback to heart and learn from it,” noted Dr. Waddell.
The award recipient, finalists, and semifinalists will receive cash honoraria provided by the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation and will be announced in Nov.
Join CSU in congratulating Dr. Rachel Waddell on this honor!
About the Award
The Music Educator Award™ was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college and 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. A joint partnership and presentation of the Recording Academy® and GRAMMY Museum®, the recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY® Week 2026.
The award is open to current U.S. music teachers, and anyone can nominate a teacher—students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. Teachers are also able to nominate themselves, and nominated teachers are notified and invited to fill out an application.
Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists and recognized for their remarkable impact on students' lives. The 12th annual honoree will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards® and a range of GRAMMY Week events. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants. Fifteen semi-finalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants.
The Music Educator Award program, including honorariums, is made possible by the generosity and support of The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation. In addition, the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, NAMM Foundation, and National Education Association support this program through outreach to their constituencies.
For more information, please visit:
https://grammymuseum.org/education/music-educator-award/
About the GRAMMY Museum
The GRAMMY Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and exploring music from yesterday and today to inspire the music of tomorrow through exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives, and public programming. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum values and celebrates the dynamic connection in people’s diverse backgrounds and music’s many genres, telling stories that inspire us, and creative expression that leads change in our industry.
For more information, visit: https://grammymuseum.org/
About the Recording Academy
The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards—music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.