EFSC Music Students Receive Jazz Scholarships

Two incoming Eastern Florida State College music students were recently selected as recipients of the Florida Smooth Jazz Foundation’s Music Merit Scholarship through the Eastern Florida State College Foundation.

Reese Montgomery and James Revels were each awarded $2,500 to further their educations at EFSC. Montgomery plays the tenor saxophone and is a recent graduate of Satellite Beach High School. Revels graduated from Merritt Island High School and plays the alto saxophone.

Established through a $5,000 donation to the EFSC Foundation in December of last year, the Music Merit Scholarships were granted based on a competition held this past spring by the EFSC Music Department.  Candidates performed two musical selections of their choosing before a panel of judges. In addition, candidates had to meet the specific academic criteria for the scholarship.

The presentation was made on June 25 on stage at the King Center for the Performing Arts by Dr. Cathy Powers with the Smooth Jazz Foundation and Dr. Robert Lamb, Music Professor at EFSC.

“The Florida Smooth Jazz Foundation is proud to be the recurring sponsor of two annual merit scholarships to jazz ensemble music students of Eastern Florida State College,” said Dr. Powers.

“Founded in 2005, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that has been involved in the promotion, production and financial support of numerous concerts throughout Florida and has been based in Brevard county since 2008.

The Foundation strives to continue to provide live music events to the community and is excited to help our EFSC students begin their college education while participating in the jazz ensemble program.

The Foundation believes that the encouragement and support of our youth in programs such as EFSC’s jazz ensemble is crucial in developing the musical artists of our future.”

The Florida Smooth Jazz Music Merit Scholarship will be awarded annually by the EFSC Foundation.

For more information about the Performing and Visual Arts programming at EFSC, contact Department Chair, Dr. Chanji Kim at (321) 433-5790. For more information about the EFSC Foundation, contact Jennie Kriete at (321) 433-7055.