Teachers and Schools from Claremont, La Crescenta, Mt. Washington, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, San Marino, Santa Monica, Valley Village and Woodland Hills are Recognized for their Exemplary Arts Education Programs

LOS ANGELES - The Music Center of Los Angeles County, a national leader in arts education, announced the six teachers and three schools named as finalists for the 26th Annual BRAVO Awards, honoring teachers and schools for exemplary arts education. The BRAVO Award is an integral part of the Music Center's leadership in supporting quality arts education for all students.

BRAVO Award nominations are made by principals, faculty committees, superintendents or parents and nominees must complete a rigorous application which is reviewed by a committee of educators and artists. All nominees and finalists are honored at a gala awards dinner, held on February 27, 2008, where the three BRAVO Award winners are announced.

Three BRAVO Awards are given out: one to a school, one to an arts specialist teacher and one to a general classroom teacher. The awards are accompanied by a cash prize of $4,000 for each teacher (generously donated by Club 100 members Elinor Turner, Grace Labatt and Sue Tsao) and $10,000 for the winning school.

The Music Center BRAVO Award was established in 1982 to recognize teachers and schools for innovation and excellence in arts education. It honors educators who use the arts to revitalize teaching, enhance student achievement and foster self-esteem, teamwork and crosscultural communication and understanding. The BRAVO Award is sponsored in part by Club 100; a donor support group for the Music Center's acclaimed educational programs.