Lois Wiggins was one of ten finalists out of over 4,500 nominees for the Grammy Educator of the Year Award. Wiggins is the Band Director at Edythe J. Hayes Middle School in Lexington KY, and has taught instrumental music for 26 years in Kentucky, Tennessee & Indiana.
Ms Wiggins has conducted honor bands in Tennessee and Kentucky and has served as an adjudicator at Concert Band, Marching Band and Solo & Ensemble Festivals throughout Tennessee & Kentucky. Wiggins has also served as a clinician at the KMEA In service Conference and the Tapestry Multicultural Conference. Professional affiliations include: Phi Beta Mu Band Masters Fraternity, National Band Masters Association, Women Band Directors National Association, Sigma Alpha Iota & Phi Delta Kappa.
Wiggins was recognized as “Outstanding Young Band Director in Kentucky” by Phi Beta Mu in 1992 and “Outstanding Bandmaster in 2010. She was selected “Middle School Teacher of the Year” in the Second District KMEA 1996 & 1999. Ms. Wiggins was named KMEA Middle School Teacher of the year in 2000.
The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education. The winner receives a $10,000 honorarium and a $10,000 grant for his or her school and is flown to Los Angeles to receive the award and attend the Grammy award ceremony. The ten finalists, as well as their schools, each receive a $1,000 honorarium.
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