Irvine teacher a semifinalist for Grammy honor

Northwood High School teacher Ben Case said he always knew he would instruct music and guide students for a living.

But he never imagined he might be given an award by the Grammy Foundation for it.

“The nomination alone meant so much to me,” Case said. “It’s reassurance that I’m making a difference.”

Case, who has taught instrumental music at Northwood for 10 ten years, was declared one of 25 semifinalists for the Music Educator Award presented by the Grammy Foundation and The Recording Academy, two organizations that are dedicated to advancing programs that engage the music industry with the community.

This year, more than 4,500 teachers were nominated nationwide. The foundation announced the 25 semifinalists from 15 different states last week. This will be the third year the academy and the foundation have given the Music Educator Award.

“The foundation has always had programs to support music education but one day we realized we didn’t have anything that recognized the teachers, so we decided to include that,” Grammy Foundation Executive Education Director David Sears said. “For the award, we identify teachers who are not only outstanding practitioners in music but are also engaged with their local community. How are they making a difference in students’ lives?”

Northwood choral director Zach Halop, a colleague of Case’s for 10 years, has seen him bring together Irvine Unified School District’s high school and middle school students through music.

“For years, he’s organized the Band Spectacular where middle school students can watch the high school marching bands play,” Halop said. “He does it so the middle schoolers can get a chance to see what they can accomplish later on.”

The event at Irvine Stadium concludes with an ensemble of the high school and middle school students playing together, a total of around 750 instruments.

Besides using his hands to play and conduct music, Halop said his good friend and colleague puts his digits to good use for another hobby — woodworking. Last year, Case handcrafted a baton for Halop to use when conducting his choir.

“I use it whenever the large ensembles perform,” Halop said. “No idea is off limits when it comes to Ben. It doesn’t surprise me at all that he’s a semifinalist for an award like this.”

Teachers who are nominated must complete an online application for the award. After those are submitted and scored, around 200 quarterfinalists are chosen.

Those teachers may then send written or video testimonials from colleagues, students, friends or family. Among those submissions, semifinalists are selected.

Case was nominated by a family with two students, siblings, he once had in his music classes at Northwood. One went on to study music composition in college, he said.

Northwood senior Reanna Villegas, who has had Case as a band and orchestra teacher since her freshman year, helped film the video he needed to submit.

“Seeing the way he works with students is what makes me want to be a music teacher in the future,” she said. “He’s always thinking of ways to get younger kids involved with music. He knows a love for music starts then.”

Villegas remembers when Case highly encouraged her and fellow band students to play for a special performance of the drama department’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” last year. The show was put on during the school day and elementary students in the district were invited to watch at Northwood.

While growing up, Case’s father worked in student services and his mother in special education and choral directing in their church. Because of that, the music enthusiast said that he’s “always known [he] wanted to teach.”

As a young student, Case picked up the piano, saxophone, clarinet and several other instruments.

Although the student has become the teacher, he still picks up his sax to play gigs around Orange County with a saxophone quartet.

“I continue to play to keep myself honest,” Case said. “I’m always telling the kids to give back to the community by sharing their gifts. I feel it’s the right thing to practice what I preach.”

The 10 finalists for the Music Educator Award will be announced in December and a final winner in February 2016.

The winner will be flown to the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles to accept the honor, attend the Grammy Awards ceremony and receive a $10,000 honorarium.