The 2024 WDNA Music Scholarship recipients pose together at the Jazz Gallery in Miami, FL, after being awarded scholarships to attend the prestigious Litchfield Jazz Camp.

Elevating Future Jazz Talents Through Scholarships

Since 2007, WDNA 88.9FM has been awarding scholarships to deserving students studying jazz. Over the years many students have received full scholarships to attend some of the most important jazz workshops in the U.S. This includes the Juilliard Jazz Workshop, Snow College Jazz Workshop and Litchfield Jazz Camp & Festival.

Through these scholarships, students are afforded the opportunity to study, interact, and perform with some of the world’s foremost jazz educators and musicians, while positioning themselves for full academic rides to some of the most prestigious jazz institutions in the country.

*According to The College Board, students who participated in music scored an average of 31 points above average in reading, 23 points above average in math, and 31 points above average in writing.

Some scholarship recipients also receive valuable studio time to produce their own music and are exposed to industry officials who often attend these workshops & festivals looking for the next generation of jazz masters.

Congratulations to our 2024 WDNA Music Scholarship Recipients:

Ms. Jolie Demesmin: Voice, Osceola County School for the Arts

Mr. Manesh Hiranand: Piano, Coral Reef Senior High

Ms. Kaitlyn Abbott: Voice, Miami Art Studio @ Zelda Glazer

Mr. Wyatt Gaviria: Baritone Saxophone, New World School of the Arts

Mr. Roulen Maldonando: Trumpet, New World School of the Arts

Mr. Zachary Balding: Trumpet, New World School of the Arts

For the eighteenth consecutive year WDNA 88.9FM conducted its much-anticipated Music Scholarship Awards Competition. The event which was held at the
station’s Jazz Gallery in front of a receptive audience on April 7 accommodated students from various high schools within the State of Florida. In the end, six scholarships were awarded, to the aforementioned top scorers. Each student will get a full scholarship to attend Session 4 of the 2024 Litchfield Jazz Camp.

The award includes:

• Roundtrip air travel from Fort Lauderdale to Connecticut
• Transfers
• Room & Board
• Tuition
• Interaction with acclaimed jazz instructors
• Exposure to decision makers from major colleges
• Complimentary recording session at Blue Road Record Studio (Top winner only)
• $500 cash award (Top winner only)

The students were judged by a distinguished panel which included Mr. Dante Luciani, Ms. Miriam Stone, and Mr. Michael Valentine.

The students were provided with a LIVE rhythm section led by Ms. Franchesca Romero (Piano), Mr. Vince Dupont (Bass), and Mr. John Zigler (Drums).

The 2024 program was sponsored by Blue Road Record Studio, Ocean Bank, Panter, Panter & Sampedro, Musicians Discount Center, The Fish House Miami, Florida Connecting Kids to Coverage, and African Heritage Cultural Arts Center.

About WDNA

WDNA 88.9FM is South Florida’s only source for primetime jazz, and for over 40 years has delivered the best of the genre. Respected worldwide as an oasis for jazz, WDNA has supported and promoted a myriad of arts organizations. The station is also dedicated to providing opportunities to students. It has a vibrant internship program and routinely preempts it programming to showcase a variety of LIVE student performances. Its weekly “Jazz Boot Camp” is a performance-based workshop for middle and high school student that has developed many campers into mature musicians. The station also provides colleges and universities with a platform to expose various student/faculty ensembles. Among these are the weekly Florida International University’s “FIU Music Hour”, and the University of Miami’s “UM Frost Jazz Hour” which can be live-streamed Tuesdays and Thursdays respectively at 11am.

88.9FM Litchfield Jazz Camp Promotion

Now in its 28th year, the Litchfield Jazz Camp & Festival is an annual 4-week jazz workshop that’s held in Washington, Connecticut. Directed by saxophone great Don Braden, the camp is loaded with renowned jazz musicians and instructors from colleges such as The Julliard School, Berklee College of Music, SUNY Purchase College, among others. The camp has a large faculty roster, making it one of the most sought-after workshops in the country for cultivating future jazz masters. The 2024 Litchfield Jazz Camp runs June 30 – July 26. The camp culminates with the annual Litchfield Jazz Festival, which the years has showcased numerous legendary musicians. More information is available at: www.litchfieldjazzcamp.com.

WDNA 88.9FM Serious Jazz is deeply grateful to the following corporations for their commitment and support.

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