Kids & Family

Los Gatos High School is Grammy Awards Semifinalist

Wildcats are among more than 120 semifinalists selected by Grammy Foundation due to school's outstanding music program.

The Grammy Foundation has announced that Los Gatos High School is a semifinalist for the 2014 Grammy Signature School Award distinguishing itself from the thousands of campuses that applied nationwide.

Los Gatos High School is among more than 120 semifinalists announced by the foundation Nov. 20. 

If chosen as a finalist, the elite school will qualify for a cash award to support the activities of the music department under the leadership of Chris Marra.

The Award application included a few short essays and answers to general questions describing and corroborating the strength of LGHS' music program.

Created in 1998, the Grammy Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year.

Neil Portnow, president/CEO of The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation said many of the schools applying for the award face serious economic challenges, "so it's truly inspiring to
see this level of commitment to arts education and to the students who benefit from this type of curriculum."

In mid-March 2014, the foundation will announce the finalists for the program and the schools selected will receive a custom award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 up to $15,000 to benefit their music program.

"We in the Los Gatos High School music community, kids and parents alike, are very excited," said Scott Smyers about the recognition in an email to Los Gatos Patch.

The selection process for Grammy Signature Schools begins each year in August when the foundation mails notification to more than 20,000 public high schools from districts large and small, urban, suburban and rural, requesting information about each school's music program.

Applications are completed and submitted online in October at www.grammyintheschools.com.

After the applications are scored, finalists are identified and asked to submit additional documentation, such as recordings of school concerts, sample concert programs and repertoire, which is then reviewed by an independent blue-ribbon committee of top music educators and professionals to determine the schools that merit Grammy Signature School status.

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