The John and Alice Coltrane Foundation

Scholarship Program

Due to unforseen circumstances, The John Coltrane Foundation's scholarship program will be postponed until further notice. We will resume our activity as soon as possible. Please continue to check this website for program details and information.

Past Winners:

2006
	Remy Le Boeuf - Saxophone Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY "Currently, I plan to finish my bachelorMusic, and then continue my studies of music, earning an advanced degree. Eventually I hope to secure a college level teaching position. While continuing my studies I will compose and perform as much as possible. I will always be working on my own musical projects and trying to develop as a musician and a person."
	Pascal Le Boeuf - Pianist Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY "Some of the happiest moments of my life occurred on stages and in recording studios. I have no doubts that my path in life lies in music. There are many genres to choose from, but I prefer jazz because it is simultaneously formulaic and flexible, allowing all who understand the method to be able to play any chart, but with the expectation that they spin it their on way. As s result, jazz is in a continuous state of innovation and development. Everyone is attempting to find his or her "unique voice" everyone is attempting to evolve the art form. I want to contribute to this plethora of individual voices with the hope that mine will somehow have a positive effect on the whole."
	Will Clark - Drums Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY "Although school provides many opportunities for performance, the real education in relating to the public takes place outside of the institution. Performing for an audience that is not comprised almost entirely of musicians can be an eye-opening experience. My goal after graduation is to perform professionally. Itof the learning processpublic is affected by my playing then there will be an audience for my music and I will have a career."
	Melissa Gardiner - Trombone University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI "I plan to take advantage of all of the diverse opportunities and resources offered at the University of Michigan. I am actively involved in research and hope to publish something in the future. I would also like to study abroad to learn more about music and other cultures. I hope to attend graduate school in NYC and continue jazz studies. I am very passionate about music, art, and traveling, so I want a career to involve all three of those things."
	Jay Multanen - Bass University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA "Performing and teaching music go hand in hand. It is difficult to excel at one if you are not proficient at the other. I have a passion for both performing and teaching and I have set goals for myself to allow my fervent dreams to become reality. Recently, I achieved one goal of studying with John Clayton, it was a dream come true. He is the person musically I hope to some day become. With Johnown trio, become a prolific writer and arranger. I would also like to teach young musicians and help them find their own voice."
	Noah Garabedian - Bass University of California, Los Angeles, CA "As a music student in a major academic institution, I have had the opportunity to not only grow as a musician, but also to study and be exposed to a wide variety of topics and disciplines that will provide me with a broader understanding of the world. I hope to take what I have acquired here at UCLA from the faculty and the people in the jazz world, and also take in what I can from graduate school, and in turn give my own contributions back to the community. While it has been my dream to become a professional musician, I would also like to be a part of younger musician
	Gregory Lindgren - Saxophone University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI "As a musician, the state of music in our culture is so important to me that I plan to devote my future to improving it. By studying music and economics as an undergraduate and law in graduate school, I will be better prepared to improve the status of serious music in America. Through work in the music industry, I plan to promote music of serious artists making use of the skills I will have gained from my education. Music is in a state of crisis, but I see this as an opportunity to elevate worthwhile music to a level never before attained in our culture."
	Salome Wiley - Saxophone North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC "I am an aspiring musician, who plans to further my career in music. I also plan to explore all areas within the field of music. I plan to travel the world and express my musical ability and touch the hearts of listeners on a national and international level."
	Montana G. Agte-Studier - Flute New School University, New York, NY "To aid me in my goal of being a working artist, I have applied to (and been accepted to) the B.F.A./B.A. Program at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music / Eugene Lang in N.Y.C. I want to continue to live my life as a creative person, raising my voice in artistic expression, and growing through my craft."
2005
	Remy Le Boeuf - Tenor Sax Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY "Above all, my aim as a jazz musician is to develop my own sound and style. I feel this is imperative for any artist, no matter what their medium may be. And I've found that in order to do this, one must become a unique player as well as a distinctive composer. John Coltrane, for example, didn't just have an individual approach to the saxophone, but his method of composition distinguished him to and equal degree. Everyone in jazz is familiar with "Coltrane changes," and I hope that eventually my playing and style of composition will be known to this same degree. While continuing my studies I will compose and perform as much as possible. I will always be working on my own musical projects and trying to develop as a musician and a person."
	Pascal Le Boeuf - Piano Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY "After I find my musical voice and develop my thoughts through study and performance, I hope to become an established jazz composer/ musician so I may tour with a band of my own and hopefully have my work performed by others. At some point during the course of my career, I would also like to get an advanced degree so that I might attain a teaching position later in life. I think teaching is extremely important to the development of jazz so that the next generation can pick up where the previous left off."
	James Breiner - Tenor Sax New School University, New York, NY "My current goals primarily rotate around my own personal development as a musician, composer, and improviser as well as the development of my quintet, no matter what the audience. Music in my opinion, is perhaps the most emotive art form, and my hope is that the music I write will lead the listener to an emotional state, whether euphoria or gloom. The point being that the music lead the listener to transcend the thought and emotions that keep them bound to reality."
	Will Clark - Jazz Drum Set Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY "It all begins with my ability as a musician. I consider this part to be a lifelong task which began in my eleventh year when I first picked up a pair of drumsticks. Before the end of my first year of studying drums, I was hooked on jazz. It didnI would need to have an incredible amount of technical ability on my instrument. And so, the journey began."
	Natalie M. John - Jazz Vocalist University of Southern, California, Los Angeles, CA "My plans are in the works to head my own jazz quartet, playing in and around the Los Angeles area, and eventually touring extensively. I plan to collaborate with other musicians I have met in the past 2 years at USC to create new, fresh forms of art."
	Gregory Lindgren - Alto Saxophone University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI "My decision to study jazz performance and economics stems from my desire to work in the music industry. The music business in our country is seriously flawed, and I think that to make any significant positive impact, I will need a deep understanding of economic theory along with my passion for music. After my studies at the university level, I plan to go on to graduate school and then pursue a career as both a performer/composer and businessman."
	Eric Patterson - Alto Sax University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA "I push myself hard striving always to realize my full potential and artistic capacity. As a professional jazz artist and educator, I will create meaningful music that has the potential to deeply impact my audience, while reserving the time to teach young and aspiring musicians to do the same."
	Peter Slocombe - Jazz Saxophone California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA "My plan is to finish at Cal Arts next year with a BFA in Jazz studies. I will be auditioning for a Masteryear and hope to move out to the East Coast in the summer of 2006. After my masterpossible I also plan to work on my own original projects."
	Vincent Nero - Alto Saxophone Manhattan School of Music, New York, N.Y. "I plan to use this time in college to greatly improve my skills as a musician, and also make some life - long connections.  I know that I will finish college and get a performance degree and then get my masters.  I aspire to become a professional musician and I strive to make a name for myself while in college.  In the future I hope to get a part-time teaching job at a college, but also record original CDs and tour the world with my own group."
2004
	Philip Dizack - Trumpet Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY "I would like to nurture and support young talents who need help by becoming a great musician."
	Will Clark - Drums/Percussion Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY "My life goals are simple yet difficult to obtain. I want to play music professionally with musicians whom I respect. I would like to be a great musician with a good attitude."
	Mathias Aspelin - Pianist University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA "My major goal is to improve as a human being and to be able to manifest awareness of the human condition through music."
	Sean Hutchinson - Drums/Percussion University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA "My goal has always been to become a versatile professional Jazz musician which will enable me to work with some of my heroes who have inspired me to take this path in life."
	Amelia J. Spooner - Vocalist University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA "Music is a personal and often solitary practice. Happily, however, music requires that we share what we have learned with others, that we collaborate and listen. It is music's ability to take up our time -- to bring people into the same temporal space for a few seconds or for the length of an opera -- that keeps me a musician, practicing in my room, but always playing outside of it. My primary goal as a musician is to keep up my own craft so I'll be able to play with and learn from others."
	Mathew Davis - Electric Bass California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles, CA "My plan is to devote myself to music full time, supplementing my income with teaching and composing in addition to all forms of performing."
	Charles Foldesh - Drums/Percussion Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, OH "As I continue to study this great art and to grow as a musician, I will do everything possible to contribute professionally for the rest of my life."
	Joshua Duron - Drums/Percussion University of California, Los Angeles, CA "My goal is to be a Jazz performer and educator. I plan to use the wealth of knowledge accumulated from my Jazz studies to educate children especially who are in need for direction."
2003
	Michael James Lindsay - Vibraphonist University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Although I cannot think of it getting much better than playing in the tonight show band. My life´s goal would be, to be able to support myself and a family soley through Music. Whether it be touring, recording or writing. Nothing would make me happier than to live a successful life as a jazz musican and nothing more.
	Sara Gazarak - Vocalist University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA I aspire to pass on my passion for jazz music and it´s history to as many young people as possible. Without people willing to pass on the legend, there will be no one to continue the legacy. I also want to perform, record, tour, teach and create new interpretations of jazz music. My involvement with USC´s Jazz Reach has prepared me to teach an emsenble of 20 young people, which I have done.
	Jeremy Powell - Tenor Sax New School University, new York, NY I have one year to go to get my bachelor´s degree. But i want to grasp as much outside and inside music that I can. It might sound corney, but I want to use myself and what I know to help others through music and what I´ve learned through life.
	J.J. Byars - Alto Sax University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA I plan to become a performing and composing jazz musician. I am going to college to fill the holes in the philosophy of life and music that I might have. In the long term, I want to be able to travel the world with my music and to see things that will broaden my perspective on life. I also desire to someday be a writer both in the musical and literary form.
	Jonathan T. Rossman - Alto Sax New York University, New York, NY My main focus and career aspirations are in music. However I have also chosen to study politics because of a strong interest I have in works of political philosophy. Studying music at New York University has offered me a tremendous opportunity to begin establishing myself as a working musician in New York.
2002
	Mahesh Balasooriya - Piano University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA "I participated in the John Coltrane Music Festival in 1995, it opened my mind to be a Jazz Musician." Winner of the prestigious best solo of the year award from the I.A.J.E. Fullerton Jazz Festival in 2000.
	Michael James Lindsay - Vibraphonist University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA "Michael is an extremely talented young man with great ability to perform and write music. His skills exceed any other young person I've had the pleasure of teaching." Brenda Fagan, Brethren Christian High School" This rare combination of talent and personality sets Michael a cut above other students his age." Christopher Russell, Music Dept. Orange County High School of the Arts.
	Harvey Cummings II - Saxophone North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC "He is an extremely accomplished jazz and classical saxophonist. This fine young man also donates his time and talents for local performances to help charities with fund raising." Jerold G. Lowe, Band Director Northwest School of the Arts. "Harvey Cummings has established himself as not only a true section leader, but an outstanding, determined, and dedicated young musician." Mr. Melvin L. Wright, Band Director West Charlotte High School
	Sara Gazarak - Vocalist University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA "This young lioness is so worthy of the Coltrane Scholarship, it is almost beyond my expression." Carmen Bradford, Vocal Teacher University of Southern California.

Donations

The John Coltrane Foundation supports the Scholarship Fund through private contributions. We hope to add your name to our list of supporters and recipients of our news letter. To make a donation by a major credit card you may contact our office directly at : 818-226-9991 or contact us here.

Donations by check should be made payable to The John Coltrane Foundation and mailed to :
The John Coltrane Foundation
23131 Canzonet Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA. 91367

Thank you in advance for your donation.

Donations to the John Coltrane Foundation are tax-deductible as provided by law.