5 Great Scholarships for Jazz Musicians

Contents

National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts Talent Search
Coca Cola Scholars Program
BMI Future Jazz Masters
Charlie Parker Prize
David N. Baker Scholarship

To many, scholarships for jazz musicians may seem nonexistent. But there’s an abundance of support for this most original American musical form. General musical scholarships are more accessible to high school students seeking an education in this field. However, established grant programs often help students already pursuing an education at specific colleges and universities. Below is a list of five great funds and awards available to rising stars in the jazz community.

1. National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts Talent Search

The NFAA is always on the lookout for new talent in any of the performing arts. This effort includes jazz. High school seniors seeking to attend a performing arts degree program are encouraged to apply and may be awarded up to $10,000 in scholarship money. However, that’s not the most attractive aspect of this particular grant. Successful applicants also have the opportunity to participate in the nationally recognized NFAA Arts Week with a chance to be named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Such opportunities help to build prospects for continuing scholarly options and creative opportunities. Related: 10 Best University Jazz Programs

2. Coca Cola Scholars Program

While not specifically tied to jazz, this national scholarship fund is something any prospective musician should look at. Because many high schools consider participation in musical programs a privilege, musicians are expected to maintain a certain GPA during their yearly involvement. The scholar’s program awards funds to 250 high school seniors each year who demonstrate an exemplary work-life balance. There are 200 regionally focused scholarships of $10,000 and 50 national awards of $20,000. This is one of the most sought after plums of the student funding community.

3. BMI Future Jazz Masters

For individuals already enrolled in a college program, the BMI Future Jazz Masters program offers scholarships for jazz musicians. The grant program is in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts. It aims to help support artistic exploration, excellence, and the future endeavors of scholars or performers studying jazz. Applicants must be between ages 17 and 24 at the time of submission. They must be current full-time or part-time students at a U.S. University or institution. In the spirit of jazz, applicants play for a panel of experienced judges who then award the $5,000 scholarship based on:

merit
musical proficiency
performance presence.

4. Charlie Parker Prize

BMI hosts a prestigious jazz workshop each year for those interested in pursuing composition and performance roles in the community. Each participant creates an independent work of jazz in the big band tradition. This is evaluated by leaders in the industry. As a reward for novel and inspired work, the winner of this informal competition is invited to accept a $3,000 award. It’s intended to assist the composition of new work debuted in the BMI showcase the following year. The prestige of this award is almost as beneficial as the funding it provides, since it offers composers a chance to perform for a high profile audience.

5. David N. Baker Scholarship

This is offered to full-time juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. It commemorates the legendary composer, performer, and educator who founded the Jazz Studies program at Indiana University. Prolific in both his composition and performance credits, Baker also believed in supporting music pedagogy and education. To this end, panelists evaluate individuals by invitation only. They award a $2,500 scholarship to one student. While it offers tangible support for their education, winners of the scholarship should know that the award itself is a positive mark towards their future success. The community of the arts recognizes how important it is to support the next generation of musicians. This includes the highly innovative and original field of jazz composition or performance. Some scholarship funds are associated with corporate sponsors and the National Endowment for the Arts. However, many private endowments provide scholarships for jazz musicians that may be specifically bound to a university or region.

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