Jazz Association of Macon

 

“Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn. They teach you there’s a boundary line to music. But, man, there’s no boundary line to art.”

Charlie Parker

Anton Hughes, 2008 JAM Scholarship recipient, with his new "Black Phoenix" alto saxophone. He had played his previous saxophone since 7th grade and was able to afford his new saxophone thanks to JAM. Anton is a student at Georgia Southern pursuing a music performace major and is a member of the Southern Saxophones and GSU's Jazz Band.

JAM Young Jazz Musician Scholarship

The Jazz Association of Macon (JAM) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1998. The organization’s mission is to support the proliferation of jazz as an American art form through educational and performance activities in the middle Georgia area. Members of JAM come from various parts of the state and from all walks of life, but have in common an interest in assuring that this style of American classical music will endure. Members of JAM host an annual music and arts festival, “Arts on Riverdale” in the fall, which serves as the organization’s primary fundraiser. Funds raised have supported their principal outreach program, “JAM Goes Back to School”, in which members provide jazz education to elementary, middle and high school students in several middle Georgia counties. JAM is the only non-profit organization to provide such broad-based jazz education to students and schools as a community service in central Georgia.

JAM has established the Jazz Association of Macon Young Jazz Musician Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating high school student who has demonstrated his or her proficiency in jazz as an instrumentalist or vocalist in jazz performance. Students who play jazz on instruments that are not usually associated with jazz performance (example --- violin) are also encouraged to apply for the scholarship. The student must attend an accredited public or private high school or accredited home school program and reside in one of the surrounding counties: Bibb, Houston, Peach, Crawford, Monroe, Jones, Blakely or Baldwin. Candidates should be graduating seniors at the end of the school year and must provide evidence of acceptance to an accredited 4-year college or university, or a 2-year community college. U.S. citizenship or permanent legal US residency is required. It is NOT required that they attend college in the state of Georgia. The student must submit evidence of their musical proficiency and participation as jazz performer during high school, and describe their plans for continued involvement as a jazz musician while in college. The candidate is NOT required to be a music major while in college. JAM requires that ALL of the following information should be submitted by the application deadline to be considered for the scholarship:

  1. Application form, typed, word processed or printed legibly, including the brief essay portions.
  2. Official sealed high school transcript that demonstrates a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  3. Two letters of recommendation, with at least one from a band, orchestra, choir or musical theater director or teacher who has had significant involvement in your jazz education. Their letter should describe your involvement as a jazz performer. If the candidate has served in a leadership role (band president, student council representative, etc.) in activities related to music or in other extracurricular activities, the letter should describe such activities.
  4. Evidence of your community service performed during high school --- it is not required that your community service was performed in a music environment or venue.

All four items listed above must be submitted in a single package by September 1, in the year of application. The minimum scholarship award will be $1,000. The potential for a larger award exists. The scholarship will be given in the form of a check payable to the selected individual for his or her use for school related expenses, which could include, but are not limited to, the purchase of music, support for additional music lessons, travel expenses related to auditions or performances, the purchase of instruments or to support the copyright of original music. The award will be announced at the annual Arts on Riverdale Festival. The student is not required to be present at the Festival. The student may be asked to perform at a future Arts on Riverdale or JAM venue. The scholarship check will be given to the student after they submit evidence of college registration. JAM reserves the right to terminate the scholarship program at any time, or to withhold the award if a student of adequate proficiency does not complete the application process.

The selection committee will be composed of the JAM Executive Committee who will evaluate all packages on the criteria previously noted. JAM is an equal opportunity organization and candidates’ applications will be reviewed without regard to race, gender, nationality or sexual orientation. Students may submit audio or video performance materials, but these are not required. Do not submit original or valuable items - materials that are submitted will not be returned.

Summary of Jazz Association of Macon Young Musician Scholarship Criteria:

Auditions are NOT required. The application and the recommendations will serve as evidence of the applicant’s proficiency in jazz performance. Audio or visual performance materials will be reviewed if they are submitted but are not required. If they are submitted, they will not be returned to the applicant. The decision of the JAM Scholarship Committee shall be final and cannot be appealed in any fashion.

The student should fill out the application form and may request assistance, if necessary. Upon completion of the essay portion by the applicant (typed, word processed or legibly printed page, 12 point font), the student should submit the completed application form including the student essay portion), and the letters of recommendation to the address below. The completed application packages should be submitted via U.S. mail or express mail and received by September 1, in the year of application, by 5:00 PM to:

Jazz Association of Macon, P.O. Box 4192, Macon, GA 31208-4192.

Click here for the scholarship application form and more information.

 

Jazz Association of Macon • PO Box 4192 • Macon, Georgia 31208-4192 • JazzMacon@gmail.com