SANTA MONICA, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Recording Academy) - The GRAMMY Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2009 GRAMMY Camp, GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs. These programs are part of the GRAMMY in the Schools offerings of the Foundation. Gibson Foundation continues to generously sponsor GRAMMY Signature Schools and GRAMMY Camp is sponsored in part by Epiphone.
"Our GRAMMY in the Schools programs are designed to provide young people with access to the power of music," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and President of the GRAMMY Foundation. "Whether they are attending our GRAMMY Camp and working directly with outstanding artists and music industry professionals to gain insight into the industry careers; a student in a high school music program strengthened by a GRAMMY Signature Schools award; or playing and recording together as a member of the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles during GRAMMY Week, our GRAMMY Foundation programs give students significant opportunities to enrich their musical lives."
Schools and students interested in participating in the 2009 GRAMMY Camp, GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs can apply at www.grammyintheschools.com. Completed applications are due by Oct. 22 for all three programs. Oct. 22 is also the early decision deadline for students interested in attending the 5th annual GRAMMY Camp that will be held July 11-25, 2009. Early decision applicants will receive a 10 percent tuition discount if selected to attend GRAMMY Camp. They receive this discount whether they are selected as part of the early decision process or drawn from the regular applicant pool. Applicants not selected via early decision will be reconsidered with the final pool of applications. The final application deadline is March 31, 2009. Over the past two years, approximately 80 percent of campers who applied for financial aid received assistance.
GRAMMY Camp
The program offers selected high school students a 14-day interactive residential summer music experience. Focusing on all aspects of commercial music, this unique opportunity provides instruction by industry professionals in an immersive creative environment with cutting-edge technology in professional facilities.
The curriculum engages students in the technical aspects of creating, performing and recording and emphasizes new and emerging music technologies. The program offers music career tracks in: audio engineering, music journalism, electronic music production, concert production/promotion and singer/songwriter. Strings, horns and rhythm have also been added to the instrumental performance track for 2009. All tracks culminate in media projects, CD recordings and/or showcase performances. GRAMMY Camp will be held July 11-25, 2009, at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and other professional venues throughout Los Angeles.
GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles
High school (public, private, parochial, home-schooled, etc.) singers and instrumentalists are encouraged to audition for the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles. Selectees will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, the host city for the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards. Students will participate in high-profile GRAMMY Week performances and recording sessions and will attend the 51st Annual GRAMMY telecast on Feb. 8, 2009. Musical directors for the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles are Justin DiCioccio (Manhattan School of Music) and Dr. Ron McCurdy (USC Thornton School of Music). Students are also eligible for college scholarships through the college incentive program (more than $2 million available) offered by program partners Berklee College of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and Manhattan School of Music.
Entrants and their high school will receive a 90-day subscription to SmartMusic, a complete music practice system offered by MakeMusic Inc. Additionally, the school of each selectee will receive a professional cymbal courtesy of the Zildjian Company. The GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles program receives additional support from the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, SmartMusic, Zildjian, Capitol Recording Studios and Guitar Center Hollywood.
GRAMMY Signature Schools
Up to 20 public high schools will be recognized as GRAMMY Signature Schools, with each receiving a cash award ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Several school music programs will be selected as the recipient of the GRAMMY Signature School Enterprise Award, which recognizes efforts made by schools that are economically underserved with a grant of up to $10,000. This one-time-only award requires completion of the Enterprise Award section of the GRAMMY Signature Schools application. The top schools are designated GRAMMY Signature Schools Gold recipients and the best of the Gold recipients is chosen as the National GRAMMY Signature School. The National GRAMMY Signature School will receive up to $10,000, and the remaining Gold schools each will receive up to $5,000. The remaining GRAMMY Signature Schools recipients each will receive a grant award of $1,000 to benefit their music programs.
A new addition to GRAMMY Signature Schools this year is a series of workshops for teachers and administrators providing tutorials on the program application process. Workshops will be held in Detroit and Miami.
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture - from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyintheschools.com.
Gibson Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Gibson Guitar Corp., the world's premiere musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology. The mission of Gibson Foundation is to make the world a better place for children by creating, developing and supporting programs and other nonprofit organizations in their efforts to advance education, music and the arts, the environment and health and welfare causes. For more information please visit www.gibsonfoundation.org.
Epiphone fretted instruments, amplifiers and accessories are known worldwide for offering the best combination of quality and value. Headquartered in Nashville, Epiphone is part of the Gibson family of brands that includes Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Valley Arts, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Wurlitzer, Hamilton, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Take Anywhere Technology and Sunshine Piano. Visit Epiphone's Web site at www.epiphone.com.
