Jazz at the Ballroom Scholarship

Amount:
$1,000
Deadline:
December 16, 2025
Awards Available: 3

Scholarship Description

Each year, our panel of professional musicians awards three California music students monetary awards to further their jazz education and music programs. The winners are also hired throughout the coming year to perform at JATB events. All applicants are invited to free concerts and workshops throughout the school year. The competition is open to high school jazz instrumentalists in California. Applicants must complete an entry form (available on our website), a personal statement, and include a recording (does not need to be a professional recording).

Scholarship Details

  • Opportunity to perform in two to three JATB community events
  • Total award value of $1,000 per finalist
  • Finalists selected by a panel of professional jazz musicians
  • Judging criteria include musicality, melodic development, harmonic understanding, rhythmic feel, technical ability, improvisation, creativity, and swing feel

Eligibility Criteria

  • High school jazz instrumentalists in California
  • Applicants must be 14-18 years old
  • Must be enrolled in a California high school
  • Must be a legal resident of the United States or its official territories

Application Process

  1. Complete the entry form available on the JATB website.
  2. Submit a personal statement explaining your passion for jazz and music studies.
  3. Include a recording of your performance (professional recording not required).
  4. Ensure all submissions are received by December 16, 2024, for consideration.

Recordings can be submitted in audio or video form and must be two audition pieces: one ballad and one contrasting piece. Please include one paragraph explaining the applicant’s background in jazz, favorite artists and musical influences, future goals and plans in music and jazz study, and the use of the scholarship money (i.e. private jazz study, tuition for a jazz focused music program, etc.). The winners will be picked by a panel of professional jazz musicians based on their submissions and awarded $500 each to further their music studies as well as hired for at least three paid performances as part of JATB events. The total value of the award is $1000.

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