Aria Awards
Image: Jordan Kirk

Nominations Are Open For The ARIA Music Teacher Award For 2020

The Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award will return in 2020 to recognise the contribution of music teachers throughout Australia. The award, launched in partnership with The Song Room in 2017, rewards music teachers for their dedication to their students and the wider community, highlighting the importance of music in education.

Award winners are nominated by the Australian public, with submissions open to teaches around the country across every age group and a range of different circumstances.

“Winning an ARIA Award is something I will never forget. The build up to the voting stages reassured me that my school community, family and friends really value what I bring to music education,” commented Antonio Chiappetta, who won the award last year.

“The experience has changed my life, knowing how much music teachers are acknowledged in this award on national TV. Seeing how proud everybody was of me was humbling and emotional at times. There are so many passionate music educators in Australia with such diverse skill sets working in a number of different environments.”

ARIA CEO Dan Rosen commented: “The Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award is a highlight of the ARIA Awards. It’s our chance to shine a light on the amazing work of music teachers all around Australia, from our inner cities to our most remote communities. We have had some incredible winners and nominees in previous years, and I can’t wait to discover the stories of this year’s entrants.”

Entries are open now, with a shortlist of nominees to be announced in October. Each shortlisted nominee will be partnered with an Artist Ambassador who will “connect with the school, help celebrate its success and tell its music teacher’s story,” according to a press statement.

A public and music industry voting process will be conducted, and the winner announced at the 2020 ARIA Awards in November.

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