Congratulations to DiAnne Mott, who taught music and rhythm classes at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts this summer! She has been selected as one of only 25 semifinalists from all over the country for the 2016 Grammy Music Educator Award. This award is presented every year by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation to recognize educators who have made significant and lasting contributions to the field of music education.

DiAnne Mott teaches her Music & Rhythm class at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts this summer.

DiAnne was chosen from more than 4,500 educators nominated. In December the semifinalists will be narrowed down to 10 finalists, who will each receive a $1,000 honorarium and grants for their schools. One winner will attend the Grammy Award ceremony in Los Angeles in February and receive a $10,000 honorarium.

For most of the year, DiAnne teaches music and leads the bands at Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School District. There is no one more deserving of this award, because there is no one more passionate about what she does. You make us all proud, DiAnne!

The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is pleased to announce that Sue Nigra has been named its interim director. Nigra is responsible for the oversight of all programs and activities at the center as well as marketing, membership recruitment and fund development.

“We are delighted to have Sue Nigra join us to help launch the creative arts center. Her enthusiasm and experience are a perfect match, and who better to help us make the Paul Nigra Center a success than Sue Nigra?” said Wally Hart, executive director of The Lexington Foundation.

Nigra, who will lead the center named in honor of her late father, brings to this role an extensive and broad experience in business, communications, public relations and the media. She most recently served as director of communications & outreach at the New York State Chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which represents more than 4,000 members. Prior to her time at ACOG, Nigra worked as director of communications at Bellevue Woman's Hospital in Niskayuna. Sue Nigra is perhaps best known for her early career in television journalism, where she worked for several years as a news anchor and reporter at both WTEN in Albany and WRGB in Niskayuna.

Ms. Nigra graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Public Communications from the College of Saint Rose in Albany. She resides in Rensselaer County with her husband Joe and daughter Elizabeth.

Paul Nigra Center Music Teacher DiAnne Mott Nominated for a Grammy!

Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts names Sue Nigra Interim Director