The Grammy Awards may be over, but it has left its mark at West. Orchestra director Jo Wallace-Abbie was selected by the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy as a finalist for the first Music Educator Award. Senior Alex Tayoub nominated Wallace-Abbie for the award last spring.

“Mrs. Wallace-Abbie deserved to be recognized for her contribution to Plano West’s music education,” Tayoub said. “The Grammys, being the highest honor in the music industry, would be the perfect way to thank her for all the work she has done, not just for her students, but for all of Plano West.”

Over 30,000 nominations were initially considered for the award. Wallace-Abbie was selected as one of 10 finalists in December and will receive a $1,000 honorarium for her achievement. West will receive a matching grant.

“I felt very honored and humbled to be selected as a finalist,” Wallace-Abbie said. “To think that I was in the final 10 was mind-boggling for me, as there are a lot of fine music teachers in this country.”

Many of Wallace-Abbie’s students already consider her the best, however.

“She’s really passionate about teaching and makes us enjoy the time we spend with the music,” junior Quianquian Yang said. “It’s great to learn to listen beyond the notes on the page and learn about shaping, orchestral balance and tone production.”

Tayoub nominated Wallace-Abbie for more than her talent as a music teacher.

“She is always telling us to do our best in every class, not just orchestra,” Tayoub said. “She is also always motivated and happy to be in class every day—you don’t see that in many teachers these days.”

As Wallace-Abbie advanced to the final round, former students began to reach out to her.

“It has been a wonderful experience hearing from colleagues and ex-students across the world,” Wallace-Abbie said. “Teaching is never a dull job and I enjoy my students.”

West’s string program has one of the best reputations in the state, and was selected as a Grammy Signature School in 2011. The program was started by Wallace-Abbie, who is in her 35^th year of teaching music.

“It is also teaching math, teamwork, listening skills, time management, responsibility, citizenship, leadership and character,” Wallace-Abbie said. “Each component reveals itself as an integral part of the preparation for any performance. Teaching music isn’t just teaching music.”