The Grammy Museum will welcome in First Lady Michelle Obama as the keynote speaker on July 16 for a luncheon in Los Angeles, Billboard reports. The keynote address is for the first ever Jane Ortner Education Award, an award that acknowledges teachers who use music in their classroom instructions. Soul and R&B singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe , who received this year's Artist Award, has been asked to perform at the event.
Created by both the Grammy Museum and entertainment attorney Charles Ortner, the goal of this award is to "recognize teachers who understand the importance of incorporating music into the classroom as a powerful educational tool," as he puts it. The award is named after Ortner's late wife, Jane, who was a New York elementary school teacher. She would often use music education as a tool for teaching her students.
Charles Ortner has represented the likes of artists such as Lady Gaga, U2, Green Day, Madonna, Michael Jackson and Daft Punk, to name a mere few. He's also worked with Universal Music, EMI and the Recording Academy.
The July 16 luncheon will be hosted by Grammy Museum executive director Bob Santelli in Los Angeles at the famed Club Nokia at L.A. Live, and will not only hold a special performance from Monáe but also an array of student musicians, showing just how powerful and important music can be to education.
Ortner's wife reportedly died of multiple myeloma back in the year 2000. It was then that the attorney "recognized that music can help children learn basic academic subjects. But equally important, music helps children develop confidence, cooperation and communication-skills that are critical to their success."
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