Our
Scholarship Endowment Program
Each
year we make available educational scholarships to qualified
senior students attending Treasure Coast area high schools,
junior colleges and preparatory schools.
We offer
auditions to those students who have a desire to major in advanced
music, music education, or who want to further hone their musical
talents, including jazz. Since the program's inception the Treasure
Coast Jazz Society has awarded over $100,000 to over 42 scholarship
winners.
Our 2009 Scholarship Winners
First Place, Curtis Wright - $2,000
Curtis Wright began playing drums at the age of five and has been playing ever since. He had played through Gifford Middle School, Vero Beach High School (9th and 10th grades) and Indian River Charter School. Through Ensemble IV at IRCS, Curtis has gained experience by playing for such functions as Pointe West's Winter Fest, the Rotary Club and St. Peter's Ministry Night of Entertainment. He is also a member of an indoor drum line called Aquarius where he plays the tenor drums (or quads).
In the words of Dave Mundy, his Instrumental Director at IRCS, "I have been increasingly impressed with Curtis's talent, dedication and drive for success. He plays in my top Jazz Ensemble, and is my section leader and most versatile drummer. Curtis has an incredible passion for drumming; he can't play or learn enough!"
Curtis excels in many different styles and rhythms from swing, bossa nova and sambas, to the high energy funk and hip hop requirements of contemporary jazz and pop.
Second Place, Michael Herman - $1,000
At Vero Beach High School Michael Herman has performed with the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Saxophone Quartet for the past three and one-half years. In addition, he has been a member of the Atlantic Saxophone Quartet, a professional quartet based in Stuart, FL. He is also a saxophone instructor for Alpha and Omega Music Studios in Vero Beach.
According to Colbert Page Howell, Jr., VBHS Associate Director of Bands, "Michael is an extremely talented jazz and classical saxophonist.... He listens regularly to many of the great tenor sax players such as Stan Getz and John Coltrane. Michael's sense of harmonic and melodic development in his solos is extremely advanced for a person of his age."
Michael is now attending the University of Central Floridawith a double major in Jazz Studies and Civil Engineering.
Ashod J. Andon Scholarship Fund
Ambassadors,
Patrons and Fellows
| Jazz Ambassador |
$ 500 |
| Jazz Patron |
$ 100 or more |
| Jazz Fellow |
$ 100 or less |
Our
sincere thanks and appreciation for the special contributions
of those who support our Scholarship Endowment Fund. In addition,
we have received corporate support from Exxon Mobil Corporation,
the Spaulding Corporation, The Promotion Foundation, Inc.
and the Washington Foundation.
We
invite additional contributors to participate in this worthy
charitable program. |
