ABE OLMAN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS FOR 2011
Each year, under the auspices of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, five Abe Olman Scholarships for Excellence in Songwriting are awarded to promising young lyricists & composers. These writers are selected by ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, SGA & SHOF on the basis of their participation in songwriter programs sponsored by these organizations. Over $100,000 has been awarded over the past 20 years. These awards are made possible by the family of the late Abe Olman, a major figure in the music publishing community and a co-founder in 1969 (with the late Johnny Mercer & Howard S. Richmond) of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Award recipients are honored every June in a special ceremony that takes place the same week as our annual Awards Dinner.
Erin Christine composes songs sprinkled with soul and pop, and belts out each note with immense passion. Her keyboard ability…
A New York City-based artist, Markeisha originally hails from Aurora, Colorado. Her love affair with music began in the church…
NENNA YVONNE - At age 21, the Nigerian-born/New York-raised pop princess already has the talent, pedigree, looks and desire to…
24-year-old Rachel Brown is a singer, songwriter and musician, born and raised in New York City. Brown’s music fuses pop,…
Songwriter/Artist Jason Kingston is new blood with an old soul. With rural roots among Florida farm country, his childhood was…
The Holly Prize
In 2009, the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced the creation of The Holly Prize, a new award made possible by Songmasters as a tribute to the legacy of Buddy Holly, a SHOF inductee. The Holly Prize will annually recognize and support a new “all-in songwriter “— an exceptionally talented and inspired young musician/singer/songwriter whose work exhibits the qualities of Holly’s music: true, great and original. The Holly Prize is administered and juried by the SongHall, and coincided with Songmasters’ launch of Listen to Me, a multi-media platform celebrating the work of true, great and original music recording artists. Songmasters and Listen To Me are committed to providing great music and to helping the next generation of recording artists develop their talents and make outstanding music. For more information on Songmasters or the Listen to Me series, visit www.songmasters.org.
One would never expect such a rich and mighty voice to emerge from Kendra Morris’s petite frame. Her strength as…
The NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award
A new scholarship program was announced in 2011, along with a collaboration between the Songwriters Hall of Fame and NYU Steinhardt’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. The NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award is presented to a music composition student whose work holds great potential for success in the field, and embodies the art, craft, individuality and qualities of communication of the best songwriting.
About the NYU Steinhardt Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
Established in1925, the 1,600 students majoring in renowned music and performing arts programs today are guided by 400 faculty. The degree programs—baccalaureate through doctorate—share the School’s spirit of openness and innovation that encourages the pursuit of high artistic and academic goals. This unique vision takes many forms. In 1968, the Department merged with the New York College of Music. Since that time, Music and Performing Arts Professions has functioned as NYU’s “school” of music and developed into a major research and practice center in music technology, music business, music composition, film scoring, music performance practices, performing arts therapies, and the performing arts-in-education (music, dance, and drama).
David’s road to songwriting was unexpected. Just your average college kid, bored with his economics classes, he began writing music…
