Dr. Richard Wang, esteemed board member of the Jazz Institute of Chicago and merited music educator, along with Marjorie Kiewitt who has kindly endowed the Jazz Institute's scholarship efforts have been named for a new educational scholarship. The Kiewitt-Wang Mentorship Award is given to three high school students at the freshman, junior or senior level who show excellence in musicianship as jazz instrumentalists.
Candidates are recommended by their band directors and then must audition. Three high school instrumentalists are awarded 20 free music lessons with a Chicago jazz professional of their choice. The lessons are funded by the award.
The 2008-2009 Kiewitt-Wang awardees are as follows:
- Ariana Baker, drums / Kenwood Academy High School
- Lane Beckstrom, bass / Lane Tech. High School
- Chakeiya Richmond, alto sax / Kenwood Academy High School
Audition Process
- To be considered for the Kiewitt-Wang Mentorship Award,
students must first submit an application at least two weeks prior to the
audition. - Contestants must be prepared to play two standards pre-selected
by the board of judges in addition to a jazz standard of their very own choice. - All contestants will be backed by a rhythm section
provided by JIC. - Auditions for each of the three high school levels will last
approximately an hour. - Please send/fax completed applications to the Jazz Institute
of Chicago /410 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 943/Chicago, IL 60605; fax 312
427-1684. Any questions, requests for additional information or application
materials, may be directed to Diane Chandler-Marshall, Education Director in
the office of the Jazz Institute at 312-427-1676.
