Jazz at the Ballroom Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Jazz at the Ballroom
About the Scholarship
Jazz at the Ballroom is a California nonprofit that promotes jazz education and presents concerts featuring prominent jazz artists. As part of its mission, the organization created a scholarship to support promising young jazz musicians studying in California. The program will award three scholarships to help recipients continue their jazz studies and provide performance opportunities within the community.
Description: The scholarship supports California high school jazz instrumentalists and is intended to further their musical training and performance experience.
- Administered by Jazz at the Ballroom, a California nonprofit organization
- Designed to support ongoing jazz study for high school musicians
- Includes financial awards and performance opportunities
Eligibility
The competition is open to high school jazz instrumentalists enrolled in California high schools and between the ages of 14 and 18. Applicants must be legal residents of the United States or its territories. Applicants under 18 must have their submission approved by a parent or legal guardian.
Eligibility: Candidates must be enrolled in a California high school, meet the age range, and satisfy residency and parental-approval requirements where applicable.
- Ages 14–18 and enrolled in a California high school
- U.S. or U.S. territory legal residents
- Applicants under 18 require parent or guardian approval
Application Requirements & Guidelines
Applicants must submit a completed submission form, a one-paragraph personal statement, and a recording of performance. Recordings may be video; the entire submission should not exceed 15 minutes. Submitted materials become the property of Jazz at the Ballroom and are subject to its privacy policy; finalists may be publicly identified if selected.
Application Requirements: The personal statement should describe the applicant's jazz background, favorite artists and influences, future music goals, and intended use of scholarship funds (for example, private study or tuition).
- Required: submission form, one-paragraph personal statement, and a recording
- Recordings may be video and should include a brief spoken introduction (name, piece, composer)
- Maximum total submission length: 15 minutes
- Submissions become property of Jazz at the Ballroom and are governed by its privacy policy
- Only one application per person; no application fee
Selection Process and Award
A panel of professional jazz musicians will evaluate submissions and select three finalists based on musical criteria. Judges will assess musicality, melodic development, harmonic understanding, rhythmic feel, technical ability, improvisation, creativity, and swing feel. Each finalist will receive a $500 scholarship and the opportunity to perform in two Jazz at the Ballroom events during the coming calendar year.
Award Value: Three finalists will each receive $500 plus paid performance opportunities to gain live experience in the community.
- Three finalists selected by a professional panel
- $500 awarded to each finalist
- Winners invited to perform in two paid Jazz at the Ballroom events
- Judging based solely on talent, skill, and the submitted materials (no academic or financial-need consideration)
- Non-finalists may be invited to a database for free workshops during the school year
Application Timeline
All submissions must be received by the December due date to be considered; the exact deadline is set annually by Jazz at the Ballroom. There is no fee to apply. Applicants should confirm the current year's exact submission deadline and any additional instructions published by the organization.
Application Timeline: Submissions are due by the December deadline specified by Jazz at the Ballroom; check the organization's announcements for the precise date.
- Submissions due by the annual December deadline
- No application fee
- Confirm the exact deadline and any submission instructions with Jazz at the Ballroom