Bob Barnette Memorial Music Scholarship

Bob Barnette began playing trumpet in elementary school, ultimately playing the acoustic and electric bass, tuba, trumpet and flugel horn. After graduation from Lanier High School of Macon in 1957 he attended the University of Georgia on a full double-bass and trumpet scholarship. After graduation, he spent 30 years in music education. Mr. Barnette was the Band Director at Central High School and conducted the highly-acclaimed Sugar Bear Band. His career was exemplary, with both the Mayor’s Office and County Commissioners issuing proclamations in his honor at his retirement in 1994. Bob believed strongly that he was blessed to have the career of his dreams and his dream was to help others find a love for music and performance. Toward that goal, at his passing on April 14, 2016, his family established the Bob Barnette Memorial Music Scholarship.

This scholarship is awarded to one or more middle school or high school students who live in Bibb, Jones, Monroe or Houston county. Funds available for purchase of music instruments, equipment, private lessons or in-depth study such as summer music camp. Applicants must be endorsed by a faculty member, have passing grades and be involved in the school's music program. An interview may be requested. The application deadline is March 1st of each year.

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Marc Whitten Memorial Music Scholarship

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Marc Whitten had a life-long appreciation for music and art. He began playing the saxophone in middle school, finally settling on the guitar as his instrument of choice. At both Emory University and the University of Georgia, he was a serious student of music theory. Marc suffered from Crohn’s disease from the age of 12 until his death at age 44 in 2018. His passion for music helped him cope with the difficulties of his illness. With a strong interest in music education, Marc took great delight in sharing his love of music (and guitars) with others. As a tribute to Marc’s love of music and music education, his family and devoted friends created the Marc Whitten Memorial Music Scholarship in 2019. The goals of the scholarship are to help recipients enhance their understanding and appreciation of music, and to honor the short life of Marc Whitten.

This scholarship is awarded to one or more students in middle school, high school or college who live in Bibb, Jones, Monroe or Houston county. Funds may be for purchase of music instruments or equipment, private lessons on in-depth study such as summer music camp. Applicants must be endorsed by a faculty member, have a passing grade point average and be involved in the school's music program. An interview may be requested. The application deadline is March 1st of each year. 

 

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Jazz Association of Macon John E. Curry Memorial Scholarship

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The Jazz Association of Macon (JAM) was founded in 1986 to support the proliferation of jazz as an American art form through educational and performance activities in Middle Georgia. For that purpose, JAM established the Young Jazz Musician Scholarship. In 2025, the JAM board of directors voted unanimously to rename this special scholarship to honor the tremendous generosity of John E Curry. Mr. Curry was a jazz lover. He and his wife, Margie, loved to dance to the big band sounds of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. John first attended the Jazz and Arts on Riverdale festival in 2019. He loved the festival so much that he became a loyal supporter of the Jazz Association of Macon. Mr Curry always wanted a festival poster and a T-shirt and was one of the first to have his framed and hung in his home. In 2020, during the pandemic, no Jazz and Arts on Riverdale festival took place, leaving JAM without its yearly fundraising event. Through Mr. Curry's generosity, JAM was able to award this scholarship as well as continue work in the Middle Georgia community. In 2023, Mr. Curry also enabled JAM to celebrate the 20th festival anniversary and feature Wycliffe Gordon as performer and as artist in residence for a band clinic for high school students.

The Jazz Association of Macon John E Curry Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating high school student or first year college 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, such as violinists, are also encouraged to apply for the scholarship. To be eligible for the Curry Scholarship, applicants must live or have graduated high school in Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach or Twiggs County in Georgia. For candidates to receive the scholarship, they must submit evidence of acceptance to a four-year college or university or a two-year community college. The college does not have to be in the state of Georgia. Students must submit evidence of their musical proficiency and participation as a jazz performer in high school and their plans to continue involvement as a jazz musician while in college. This candidate is not required to be a major while in college. The application requires a few brief questions, a high school transcript that demonstrates a minimum GPA of 2.0, one or two letters of recommendation from band directors, or faculty members, evidence of community service, which does not have to be in the music environment, and an overall character and aptitude for collegiate success. An interview may be requested. Auditions are not required. The application and the recommendation 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. 

Funds may be used 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.  Also, please note that if selected, students may be asked to perform in a future Jazz and Arts on Riverdale or JAM event, subject to student availability. Applications are due on March 1st each year.