2020 Scholarship Awards Announced

(photo top row l to r) CYN, Dan Edinberg, Alissia Benveniste, Nono Chen and Elie Rizk 
(bottom row) Rhea Raj, Adam Yaron, Jamie Harrison Jones and Naia Izumi 


The 2020 recipients of the Abe Olman Scholarships for Excellence in Songwriting, The NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award, Curtis Mayfield Scholarship Award, and two new scholarships; The USC Thornton School of Music Scholarship Award and The Songwriters of Tomorrow Scholarship have been selected, SHOF President & CEO Linda Moran announced today. 

This year's Abe Olman Scholarship recipients are:

CYN (ASCAP) 
Dan Edinberg (BMI)
Naia Izumi (SESAC)
Rhea Raj (BMI)
Elie Rizk (ASCAP)


Recipients of the Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting are selected by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC from their membership. Abe Olman, for whom this program is named, was both a major figure in the music publishing community and a songwriter himself, in addition to being one of the founders of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Abe Olman Scholarships, given out annually since 1990, have been made possible by his family in the interest of encouraging and supporting the careers of young songwriters. In 2002, one such recipient was John Stephens, whose scholarship funds enabled him to finish his first album which went on to win a GRAMMY under his professional name of John Legend. In 2007 he was presented with the SHOF's coveted Hal David Starlight Award.

The Curtis Mayfield Scholarship Award recognizes a promising singer/songwriter whose work reflects the inspiration, spirit and soul of SHOF inductee Curtis Mayfield. Alissia Benveniste is the recipient for 2020.

The NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award is presented to music composition students whose work holds great potential for success in the field, and embodies the art, craft, individuality and qualities of communication of the best songwriting. Nono Chen is the 2020 NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar awardees.

The new USC Thornton School of Music Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student songwriter who demonstrates exceptional professional potential through their art, craft and personal character as determined by the faculty of the Popular Music Program and Division of Contemporary Music. The 2020 recipient is graduating senior Adam Yaron.

Also new this year, The Songwriters of Tomorrow Scholarship is awarded to a high school senior attending a New York City public school, demonstrating the talent and desire to learn the craft of songwriting. The student is chosen based on an original song (lyrics and music), and the scholarship will extend an opportunity to pursue a career in music. The inaugural recipient is Jamie Harrison Jones.

More information regarding all of the 2020 recipients can be found in the Education section of the songhall.org website.