EDU PSA
Two Florida Jazz Musicians Receive Awards for Continuing Music Education
The Jacksonville Jazz Society (JJS) has announced trumpeter Jayden Titus and saxophonist Geovani Prats as recipients of its 2026 Wayne H. Barlow Scholarship Awards, recognizing two developing Florida jazz musicians pursuing higher education and careers in jazz performance and education.
The awards were presented in connection with the Society's 14th Annual Wayne Barlow Scholarship Fundraiser, held Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the University of North Florida's Adam W. Herbert University Center in Jacksonville. Saxophonist Marcus Click was the featured musical performer for the fundraising event.
Established in 2012, the Wayne H. Barlow Scholarship Fund provides individual $2,500 scholarships to qualifying students pursuing jazz studies, supporting their continued musical training and academic development.
MEET THE 2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
JAYDEN TITUS — JAZZ TRUMPET
Originally from Fort Lauderdale and more recently based in the Tampa Bay area, Jayden Titus is a jazz trumpeter and composer beginning graduate studies at the University of North Florida School of Music. He earned his bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies at the University of South Florida and is pursuing a Master of Music in Music Performance with a concentration in Jazz Studies.
Titus developed his interest in jazz while in seventh grade, inspired by listening to Miles Davis' Miles Ahead album. His musical influences include trumpeters Kenny Dorham, Clifford Brown, Roy Hargrove, and Marquis Hill, reflecting an appreciation for both the traditions of jazz trumpet and contemporary approaches to improvisation and composition.
With more than a decade devoted to studying and performing jazz, Titus continues developing his individual musical voice through performance, composition, and advanced education. His move to Jacksonville represents the next stage of his academic and professional development.
GEOVANI PRATS — SAXOPHONE
Geovani Prats, a South Florida native, is a third-year Jazz Studies student at the University of North Florida, studying saxophone under Todd DelGiudice.
Prats' musical development has been influenced by guidance and mentorship from musicians Billy Cofrances, Mark Green, and Al Hager. Their instruction has contributed to his technical development, musical understanding, and continuing interest in jazz performance.
Following completion of his undergraduate education, Prats plans to pursue additional studies with the goal of teaching music at the collegiate level. His long-term objectives include sharing his musical knowledge and providing mentorship to future generations of musicians.
ABOUT THE WAYNE H. BARLOW SCHOLARSHIP
The Wayne H. Barlow Scholarship was established in 2012 by Jacksonville Jazz Society co-founders Wayne H. Barlow and Na'im Rashid, who recognized the importance of supporting young musicians through jazz education.
Named in honor of the late Wayne H. Barlow, the scholarship program provides financial assistance to deserving high school seniors and college students whose educational pursuits emphasize jazz performance and studies.
The Jacksonville Jazz Society awards individual scholarships of $2,500 through its annual scholarship program, with recipients recognized at its fundraising event.
Scholarship applications are made available annually through the Society's website. Students who are not selected may apply again in subsequent years, while recipients are limited to one Wayne H. Barlow Scholarship award during their lifetime.
The program represents an ongoing investment in Florida's developing jazz musicians, providing financial support for advanced training while encouraging the continuation of jazz performance, composition, and music education.
ABOUT THE JACKSONVILLE JAZZ SOCIETY
Founded in 2009, the Jacksonville Jazz Society is a volunteer-operated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and presentation of traditional and contemporary jazz.
The Society supports live jazz performances, broadcasts, educational initiatives, and collaborations with music organizations, schools, and colleges throughout Florida.
Through its scholarship program and community activities, the organization works to expand educational opportunities, encourage public appreciation of jazz, and support the development of future performers and educators.
Jacksonville Jazz Society
Website: https://www.jacksonvillejazzsociety.org/
Scholarship Information: https://www.jacksonvillejazzsociety.org/wbs/
Scholarship Applications: https://www.jacksonvillejazzsociety.org/wbs/application/
Email: JacksonvilleJazzSociety@gmail.com
Source: Jacksonville Jazz Society — 2026 Wayne Barlow Scholarship Recipients and Wayne H. Barlow Scholarship Program.
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