The Latin Recording Academy and the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation will honor Luciana Ortega of Chile's Instituto Santa María de San Carlos as the inaugural recipient of the Latin Music Educator Award.
Launched in June, this new distinction honors an exceptional educator from the global music community who is making a significant impact by incorporating Latin music into their curriculum. As part of the award, Ortega's school's music program will receive a $10,000 instrument donation to support continued music education. Additionally, she will receive an all-expense paid trip to attend the Special Awards Presentation, where she will be honored during Latin GRAMMY Week 2025 in Las Vegas, days ahead of the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs, the latter of which take place Thursday, Nov. 13.
Ortega was selected from a highly competitive pool of international applicants through a rigorous process led by the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, with evaluations by a distinguished committee of music educators and academic experts and voting coordinated by the Latin Recording Academy's Awards Department. The Board of Trustees of the Latin Recording Academy made the final selection.
"We are proud to honor Luciana Ortega with the first Latin Music Educator Award," Latin Recording Academy CEO Manuel Abud said in a statement. "Her daily commitment to music students brings to life our mission to honor, celebrate, nurture and elevate Latin music and those that ensure its enduring legacy."
"This recognition transcends my name; it reflects a collective history we have woven with love, perseverance, and meaning. My family, my students, and music have been the pillars of a transformation that goes far beyond the classroom," Ortega said of her recognition in a statement.
Learn more about the 2025 Latin Music Educator Award honoree:
Luciana Ortega has been teaching music for more than 10 years. She currently leads more than 400 high school students in a holistic music curriculum that extends beyond simply playing instruments. Her teaching approach aims to establish a deep connection with cultural identity, ingenuity, and using music to transform challenges into creative opportunities, or as she puts it, "El alma de la música como motor de aprendizaje" (“The soul of music as an instrument for learning.”).
"In every note, the memory of our people, the strength of our roots, and the hope for a more humane future vibrate. I understand that educating through music goes beyond teaching sounds, and is also about awakening consciousness, healing wounds, and sowing identity," Ortega said in a statement. "This recognition honors that journey: that of those of us who believe that art can transform life and reconcile humanity with its land. Music has taught us to listen to the world with tenderness and to transform reality with love; and that, more than an achievement, is a form of transcendence."
This recognition marks a full circle milestone for Ortega, whose passion for music was ignited as a student at the very same school where she now teaches. As a music educator, she is committed to creating new learning experiences for her students, understanding the intrinsic value of music and the arts in their lives and society.
Learn more about the Latin Music Educator Award:
Presented by the Latin Recording Academy, in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, the Latin Music Educator Award recognizes one exceptional K-12 educator from the global music community who is making a meaningful impact by incorporating Latin music into their curriculum. The Latin Music Educator Award is open to educators worldwide. Eligible applicants must be educators currently teaching kindergarten through high school in a public, private or charter school, who speak Spanish, Portuguese, English or any native dialect. For additional questions regarding the Latin Music Educator Award, email LGCF@grammy.com and/or visit the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation website.
When Are The 2025 Latin GRAMMYs?
The 2025 Latin GRAMMYs, officially known as the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, will air live Thursday, Nov. 13, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This year’s show will introduce a new field and two new Latin GRAMMY categories: Best Music For Visual Media, housed within the new Visual Media field, and Best Roots Song. See the full list of 2025 Latin GRAMMY nominees.
How Can I Watch The 2025 Latin GRAMMYs?
The three-hour 2025 Latin GRAMMYs telecast will be produced by TelevisaUnivision and will air across TelevisaUnivision’s U.S. platforms beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT). A one-hour pre-show will air at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. CT).
The Latin GRAMMY Premiere, where the majority of the Latin GRAMMY Awards categories are awarded, will precede the telecast. Additional details, including date and time, about the 2025 Latin GRAMMY Premiere will be announced soon.
When Is Latin GRAMMY Week 2025?
Returning to Las Vegas, the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs will once again fill the city with music and celebrations during Latin GRAMMY Week 2025, a weeklong series of official events honoring current nominees, creativity, excellence, and the global impact and influence of the Latin music industry.
Among the celebrations are the 2025 Leading Ladies of Entertainment event, the Special Awards Presentation, Latin GRAMMY In The Schools, Nominee Reception, Best New Artist Showcase, the Person of the Year Gala, and the Latin GRAMMY Premiere. All of these official events lead up to the 2025 Latin GRAMMY Awards, the Biggest Night in Latin Music.
Get ready to watch some of your favorite artists take the stage during the 2025 Latin GRAMMYs on Thursday, Nov. 13.