Gibson Guitar and Baldwin Piano have teamed up with the Grammy Foundation to sponsor the 2003 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy High School Jazz Ensembles, which identifies, selects and rewards the accomplishments of talented high school musicians.
Students throughout North America submit their applications and tapes for consideration. The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) membership committee conducts the first round of screenings, and a Grammy Foundation blue ribboncommittee reviews the finalists. The 24 talented student musicians who will comprise the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy High School Jazz Ensembles will be announced at the January IAJE Convention in Toronto.
The students selected to the Ensembles will gather in New York City on February 17 through 24, 2003, to participate in events surrounding the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, as well as perform at renowned jazz clubs around New York City and at Grammy-related events. As part of this exciting educational program, many students will be awarded college scholarships.
“As part of Gibson and Baldwin’s commitment to music education, we tell students about the many rewards of playing music, and the Grammy High School Jazz Ensembles program shows them just how rewarding music can be,” commented Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson and Baldwin. “They get to play in a group with the best high school musicians in the country, they perform at famous jazz clubs and they get to go to the Grammy Awards in New York. It’s an experience of a lifetime for a young musician.”
“We thank Gibson and Baldwin for their ongoing support of the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation through their generous sponsorship of the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy High School Jazz Ensembles,” said Academy president Neil Portnow. “As a musical icon, we applaud their commitment to give back to the music community by providing aspiring young music professionals an opportunity to realize their dreams of performing live music as a viable career choice.”
For more information about the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy High School Jazz Ensembles, visit www.grammy.com.
