Gold Coast Jazz Society Announces Jazz Scholarship Competition

JEANETTE  M. RUSSELL JAZZ SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION

          On Saturday, April 25, the Gold Coast Jazz Society will present the annual Jeanette M. Russell Jazz Scholarship Competition.  The competition will be held at the Dillard Center for the Arts, Dillard High School, 2501 NW 11^th Street in Fort Lauderdale, occurs from 9:00am until Noon and is free and open to the public to attend.  Competitors will include finalists from Florida high schools, colleges and universities who have met the financial criteria, other scholarship qualifications and are studying jazz.  The students will participate in a live musical audition and compete for scholarship awards to attend 2015 summer music camps or for tuition assistance to attend colleges or universities in the fall of 2015.    

            Since the competition began the Gold Coast Jazz Society has awarded over $375,000 in scholarships to students from middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities pursing studies in jazz.  “The dedication and talent of the student musicians right here in our community has continued to amaze all of us since our scholarship program began,” said Tim Ingham, President of the Gold Coast Jazz Society.  This year college competitors will also be considered for a Robert G. Friedman Scholarship.  “We're so grateful to Jeanette Russell, the Friedman family and other donors for their support of this program,” said Pam Dearden, Executive Director of the Gold Coast Jazz Society.  “It’s very rewarding to know that we are able to assist these talented kids to achieve their jazz education goals.”     

  

            Jeanette Russell, affectionately known as “Lady Jazz,” was an avid jazz fan and frequently assisted jazz musicians in need.   Originally from New York City, Russell was a fashion designer and consultant to prominent clients.  Her love of jazz lives on through her scholarship program.  

            The Gold Coast Jazz Society is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to perpetuate and advance jazz through performances, education and outreach activities.  For more information or to donate to the scholarship program, call 954-524-0805 or go to www.goldcoastjazz.org.