For Immediate Release: October 9, 2008
DBEDT Release News 08-32

Applications Now Available Online

HONOLULU--The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) announced today that Hawai‘i schools and students can now submit applications to participate in three programs that recognize national excellence in music education.

"Sponsored by the GRAMMY Foundation, these programs will help foster the next generation of music professionals, and we know Hawai‘i students have a wealth of talent in the music arena," said Creative Industries Administrator Georja Skinner. "We hope students and teachers are able to represent the creative talent of our people in these two programs, and will apply to participate in these opportunities."

GRAMMY Signature Schools Program

This program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year. Each of the 14 Signature Schools selected will receive an award and monetary grant to benefit its music program.

The top three schools are designated Gold recipients. The National GRAMMY Signature School receives $10,000, and the two remaining Gold schools will each receive $5,000. In the Enterprise Award category, which recognizes efforts made by schools that are economically underserved, three schools will receive a grant of $5,000 each. Additionally, three schools will each be awarded grants of $5,000 to benefit their guitar and/or piano programs.

The remaining five GRAMMY Signature Schools recipients will receive a grant award of $1,000 to benefit their music programs. The recipients are determined by a panel of top music educators and professionals.

The selection process for GRAMMY Signature Schools begins now and the deadline to submit applications is October 22, 2008. Applications are available online at http://www.grammyintheschools.com. After the applications are scored, finalists are asked to submit additional documentation, such as sample recordings, concert programs and repertoire, which is then reviewed by a screening committee to determine the schools that merit Signature School status.

Winners will be announced in March 2009.

GRAMMY Camp

GRAMMY Camp is a two-week residential summer camp for high school students with a focus on the music industry. Hosted in Los Angeles by the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music and taught by top music professionals, GRAMMY Camp provides an immersive experience in various music industry careers for approximately 65 students each summer.

Career Tracks include Audio Engineering, Concert Promotion/Production, DJ-Remixing, Film Scoring, Instrumental Performance, Music Journalism, Music Production, Performance Songwriter, and Video Game Music and Sound Design.

Teachers and students can obtain applications on line for Grammy Camp 2009 at http://stage1.grammyintheschools.com/appl/camp. The first application date of interest is due by October 22, 2008. The final application deadline is March 31, 2009. The program cost is $2,500 and applications for financial aid are also available online.

GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles

This program selects and rewards 30 top high school instrumentalists and singers from public and private schools with the opportunity to receive an all expenses paid trip to the GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles. Selectees are eligible for scholarships from college partners and have the opportunity to perform in GRAMMY Week events and record a CD at the legendary Capitol Records studios in Los Angeles. Applications for GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles are currently available online at http://stage1.grammyintheschools.com/appl/gje The deadline to apply is October 22, 2008.

The GRAMMY Foundation is dedicated to engaging students of all ages through music and arts-based education programs and accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community, as well as the general public. The Foundation also works to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young, DBEDT Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov