Korean adoptee wins Grammy Music Educator Award

Jared Cassedy

By Jhoo Dong-chan

Jared Cassedy, 34, a South Korean adoptee and music teacher at Windham High School in Windham, N.H., has won the second annual Music Educator Award from the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation.

A total of 10 music teachers from 10 cities across nine states were selected as finalists for the award. More than 7,000 candidates were initially submitted from all 50 states.

“Words cannot describe how amazing this honor is,” said Cassedy.

“This award is not only recognition of the truly talented students and supportive community I get to work with every day, but it’s also a representation of the fundamental significance of music and the arts in our schools.”

Cassedy was adopted by an American family at age of four and went on to New Hampshire University to study music education.

He started his career as band director and teacher at Windham Middle School and joined Windham High School in the same position in 2009.

He has been also appointed the director of the New Hampshire Youth Wind Ensemble and the director of K-12 Fine Arts for the Windham School District.

Cassedy’s students nicknamed him “The Energizer Bunny” for his fast talking and passion for music, according to CBS News.

Cassedy will attend the 57th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony at Staples Center, Los Angeles, on Sunday (local time) and receive $10,000 in prize money.