BELLAIRE — Kyle Cook, born and raised in Bellaire, is a quarterfinalist for the 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award.

Cook is one of the 212 quarterfinalists who were chosen for this award, which recognizes educators for having made a significant contribution to music education. Cook said he does not know who nominated him for the award, but he believes he was nominated by four people. “When you get nominated for the Music Educator Award, you receive an email saying you were nominated. I received four emails this year, so I think I was nominated four times,” he explained.

Cook and the other quarterfinalists were selected out of approximately 2,000 submitted nominations.

“When you go into teaching, you never go into it thinking you’ll win an award. You go into it because you love teaching and you love kids. The kids are the reason I got nominated. This award is their award,” Cook said.

After the quarterfinalists are chosen, they must provide video, written essays or testimonials to advance to the semifinals. Cook said this process helps him look at the big picture.

“You get to reflect on your teaching and the successes your students have had,” he said.

Cook made it to the semifinals a couple years ago for the 2022 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. He was among the top 25 music educators in the nation.

Cook graduated from Bellaire High School in 2008. He went on to get his bachelor’s degree in comprehensive music education at West Liberty University and his master’s degree from Ohio University. He completed his student teaching at Triadelphia Middle School and Wheeling Park High School.

Cook currently serves as the director of choirs at Western Branch Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Cook said that 250 students already are signed up for choir for the 2023-24 school year.

Cook also serves as the director of the Outer Banks Choir. He said that choir is made up of approximately 100 adults.

Each year the GRAMMY Music Educator Award recognizes 10 finalists including one winner for their positive impact on music education.

The winner will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the GRAMMY Awards, receive the Music Educator Award at a ceremony during GRAMMY Week, plus receive an award of $10,000.

All finalists will receive an award of $1,000, and semifinalists receive an award of $500. These awards are accompanied by a matching school grant.

The semifinalists for the 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award will be announced in September. The 10 finalists will be announced in December, and the winner of the award will be announced during GRAMMY Week in January.

To nominate a teacher, professor or music educator for this award, visit the Grammy in the Schools website and fill out an application for the 2025 GRAMMY award ceremony.