Jeffrey Allen Murdock, associate professor of music education at the University of Arkansas won the 2021 Grammy Music Educator Award. He was selected as this year’s winner from among 10 award finalists, who were selected from among thousands of nominations made earlier this year.
The prestigious Grammy Music Educator Award was presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum. It recognizes current educators 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. Dr. Murdock will receive a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for the university’s music department.
“This is absolutely surreal,” Dr. Murdock said. “There are so many deserving music educators in this country who are in the trenches doing this work. I’m honored to have been chosen from among them. Every learner, every day should have access to high-quality music education – no matter who they are, no matter where they’re from, no matter what age they are. My passion is for leveling the field of music education and I’m passionate about increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field.”
Dr. Murdock holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in music conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi. He earned a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Memphis.
