The NAMM Foundation Opens Three Scholarship Opportunities to Support Career Growth

The NAMM Foundation is pleased to announce that three award programs are now open for application. These programs offer support to attend The NAMM Show for college students exploring careers in music, college faculty creating innovative music business curricula, and mid-career music business professionals striving for career advancement. Information about applying is available at nammfoundation.org.

“These NAMM Foundation award programs invest in the future,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of The NAMM Foundation. “They support a life-changing experience — attendance and participation at The NAMM Show — and an introduction to a network of music professionals and innovators who are sure to inspire a lifetime career in music.”

The Lamond GenNext Award, formerly the President’s Innovation Award, recognizes college and university students who demonstrate excellence in the field of music. The award was renamed this past April in honor of NAMM’s former president and CEO Joe Lamond, who served from 2001–2023. Recipients of the Lamond GenNext Award will receive a travel stipend to attend The 2024 NAMM Show, along with the opportunity to participate in an invitation-only reception, professional development sessions, networking and access to the NAMM exhibit floor. Eligible students can apply to be considered by carefully reviewing these guidelines. Submissions are now open, and the application period will close Sept. 30. Selected applicants will be notified Nov. 1.

“The NAMM Show is really important because it allowed me to see all of the different roles and positions that are not talked about enough,” said Angelica Palmore, the 2023 President’s Innovation Award winner and a music technology student at Millersville University. “It helped me to meet many professionals that have given a lot of great advice on how to go about working in the industry.”

The Bernice Ash Memorial Award was established in 2021 to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Sam Ash Music’s Bernice Ash and recognize emerging leaders in the music products, sound and entertainment technology industries. The award offers a grant for continued college-level or trade-related studies, a travel stipend to attend The NAMM Show and a one-year mentorship through the NAMM Young Professionals group. Submissions for the Bernice Ash Memorial Award are now open, and the application period will close Oct. 1. Selected applicants will be notified Nov. 1.

“Bernice’s story of how she fiercely pursued what she believed in was incredibly inspiring,” said Leanne Chu, Gator’s director of supplier operations and the 2023 Bernice Ash Memorial Award recipient. “To be the recipient of an award that honors her legacy of courage will always remain a source of motivation for me to keep learning and reaching new heights.”

The NAMM Foundation-College Music Society Fellows Award supports college, university and community college faculty committed to developing curricula in music business, business leadership and innovation in the fields of music, pro audio and entertainment technology. The program seeks representation from each region of The College Music Society (CMS), including its international members, and preference is given to applicants from institutions that service traditionally underrepresented student populations. Submissions for the award are now open, and the application period will close Oct. 10. Selected applicants will be notified Nov. 1.

“The NAMM Foundation-College Music Society Fellows program was built to break down the distance between the higher-education music industry and the fields of music employment,” said Mark Rabideau, president of The College Music Society. “Each year, I’ve witnessed the transformational change music faculty undergo as they are introduced to a vastly bigger world of music, music-makers and music industry professionals during The NAMM Show.”

These NAMM Foundation scholarships are made possible through the generosity of NAMM members and donors. To learn more about the work of The NAMM Foundation, please visit nammfoundation.org.

About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 15,000 member companies and individual members around the world. The NAMM Foundation works to advance active participation in music-making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, visit nammfoundation.org.