Steinway & Sons and Conn-Selmer Partner with JAZZ HOUSE KiDS on Jazz Education Scholarships
ASTORIA, NY (August 30, 2022) – Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. is proud to announce, through both its Steinway & Sons and Conn-Selmer divisions, a collaboratively-created scholarship program for young jazz musicians studying piano, brass, and percussion at JAZZ HOUSE KiDS—one of the nation’s preeminent arts education and performance organizations. The $10,000 merit-based scholarships will cover full tuition for instrumental, ensemble, theory, and composition instruction as well as four lessons with master artists and additional performance opportunities.
The new collaboration will yield three scholarships: The Bach Brass Scholarship, The Ludwig Musser Percussion Scholarship, and The Steinway & Sons Jazz Piano Scholarship. A trio of recipients will be chosen for their promise and dedication to music making. Conn-Selmer has also gifted a trumpet to this year’s Bach Brass scholarship awardee.
Award recipients will be announced on the main stage of the MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL Downtown Jamboree on September 10, the Grand Finale of the award-winning festival produced by JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. Later this year, the young scholars will give a performance at the Steinway & Sons factory in New York City as part of Steinway’s “Live from the Factory Floor” concert series.
“By supporting jazz education, Steinway & Sons and Conn-Selmer continue in the shared legacy of our historic brands and the legendary artists who play our instruments,” said Mike Kamphuis, Vice President of Education, Conn-Selmer.
“We are happy to help talented young artists at the beginning of their careers, and we look forward to a very exciting trio performance at our factory,” said Gavin English, President, Steinway & Sons – Americas.
“We applaud Steinway and Conn-Selmer for recognizing emerging talent studying at the JAZZ HOUSE,” said Melissa Walker, Founder & President of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. “These prestigious scholarships will further the musicianship of these gifted young students, setting them on the path to follow our alumni already making a name on the jazz scene today.”
About JAZZ HOUSE KiDS
Now in its 20th year, Jazz House Kids is dedicated to transforming lives using the power and legacy of jazz through world-class education and performances that create avenues of access, learning, career development and community building. The organization and students have received more than 125 awards and recognition for excellence in jazz and jazz education. Every day of the week through a series in-school and out-of-school programs, the Jazz House helps young people gain an artistic edge through music, mentoring, education and apprenticeship, building thriving communities, and fostering community leaders and global citizens. The organization’s far-reaching cultural signature program is the award-winning Montclair Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival in the NYC area attracting more than 35,000 attendees to downtown Montclair each year. For more information, visit www.jazzhousekids.org.
About Conn-Selmer
Conn-Selmer is the leading manufacturer and distributor of musical instruments for student, amateur, and professional use. The Selmer Company, which was comprised of brands such as Vincent Bach, Selmer, Emerson, Ludwig, Musser, and Glaesel, was a leader in American craftsmanship with operations based out of Elkhart, Indiana. In 1995, Selmer took ownership in the Steinway Piano Company to create a base of legendary brands focused on the highest quality and reputation for musical performance and artistry. In 2002, the Selmer Company merged with United Musical Instruments (UMI) to form Conn-Selmer. Conn-Selmer, Inc. is a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. For more information, visit www.conn-selmer.com.
About Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.
Steinway Musical Instruments, through its Steinway and Conn-Selmer divisions, is a global leader in the design, manufacture, marketing, and distribution of high-performance musical instruments, boasting brands renowned worldwide. Its products include Steinway & Sons pianos, Steinway Spirio high-resolution player pianos, Boston and Essex pianos (designed by Steinway & Sons), Bach trumpets, C.G. Conn French horns, King trombones, Selmer saxophones, and Ludwig percussion instruments. For more information, visit www.steinway.com.
Press Contact:
Anthony Gilroy
Steinway & Sons
agilroy@steinway.com
(718) 204-3116
