Grammy winner
Kent Knappenberger, Westfield Teachers Association, is the recipient of the first-ever Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation. A music teacher and choir director for more than 25 years, Knappenberger was selected from more than 30,000 nominees. He attended the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony in Los Angeles and will receive a $10,000 honorarium.
Knappenberger said winning the award "goes a long way, and will continue to go a long way, in recognizing the important job music educators do." Music, he said, is "part of a life well-lived," and he shares that belief with the scores of grades 6-12 students he teaches. "He just has an amazing program here," said Richard Hoffman, president of the Westfield TA. "We're all very proud; the kids love him."
In print
Anthony F. Gero, Auburn Teachers Association retiree, published Boots: A Novella of the Civil War. A retired high school teacher, Gero is the author of several military history books, including Black Soldiers of New York State: A Proud Legacy and New York State National Guard. Boots is Gero's first attempt at fiction. The novella weaves history into the tale of a son's final understanding of his father's experiences in the Civil War. To order a copy, visit www.camppope.com.
Bob Gluck, United University Professions UAlbany chapter, published You'll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi Band. Noted as the first comprehensive study of Hancock's "revolutionary and influential band," the book made Spin magazine's list of the top 10 books on music in 2012. For print or e-book versions, visit the University of Chicago Press at http://press.uchicago.edu.
Georges Vilson, United Federation of Teachers, published Kandelab: 101 Notated Haitian Folk And Vodou Songs, a musical anthology that offers transcribed and notated renditions of songs from Haiti's musical traditions. Vilson also produced a four CD box set (sold separately) which includes a melodic rendition on piano as well as a reference version performed to the rhythm of three traditional drummers.