dawson grammy finalist

DHS Choir Director named Grammy FINALIST!
Posted on 12/11/2020
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DeSoto High School Choir Director Pamela Dawson has been named one of the ten finalists for the 2021 Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum's Music Educator Award.  

From nearly 2,000 initial nominations for the annual award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum, with support from Ford Motor Company Fund, Dawson now receives a $1,000 honorarium while waiting to learn the 2021 winner.  The award was established to recognize current educators - kindergarten through college, public and private schools - who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.

“I am so honored to have been nominated for this prestigious award,” Dawson exclaimed! “God has given me the gift of music and has called me to teach. I continually challenge my students to attain success not only musically but in every aspect of their lives.”

Pamela Dawson has been an integral part of the arts in DeSoto ISD and the City of DeSoto for over 10 years.  She has served as the head choral director at DeSoto High since 2007, starting with a program with fewer than 50 students that has now grown to around 200 students. The choir has been awarded many accolades on the local, state, national, and international levels. In 2017 the A Cappella choir toured the UK, made their Carnegie Hall debut in New York City in 2018, and the Toronto Music Festival in 2019.  Locally, her choirs have performed to great acclaim for many DFW-area businesses and community organizations including American Airlines Headquarters, special guest at the Dallas Black Dance Theater “Dance Africa”, North Park Mall, Six Flags Holiday in the Park, Concerned DeSoto Citizens Gospel Fest, Chamber of Commerce, Senator Royce West and local church events to name a few.

Under her leadership, the choral department has excelled in many areas including:

Over 100 students advance to State Solo & Ensemble throughout the year gaining 1st Division Ratings

Students accepted in the SWDCA Regional Honor Choir performing in Kansas City and Little Rock Arkansas

ACT-SO, a division of the NAACP where her students have advanced to Nationals, receiving Gold and Bronze status yearly.

Graduates from her DHS choir programs have moved on to success in various college and professional music programs including performances in quartets at NCAA Final Four, solo national anthems at Texas Rangers games, and performing in musical theater on Broadway!

In addition to her work at DeSoto High School, Ms. Dawson has served on and chaired the DeSoto Arts Commission, establishing the now signature program DeSoto Arts LIVE event celebrating all arts genres with feature entertainers like Midnight Star and Rueben Studdard.

The 2021 Grammy Music Educator award winner will receive a $10,000 honorarium,  be flown to Los Angeles and presented during the Grammy awards ceremonies in January.

Congratulations Ms. Dawson!  It’s a GREAT day to be an Eagle!