The GRAMMY Foundation Launches Online Applications for GRAMMY in the Schools Programs

The GRAMMY Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2015 GRAMMY Camp, GRAMMY Camp - Jazz Session and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs for high school students and high school music programs. These programs are part of the Foundation's GRAMMY in the Schools offerings and are supported in part by the Ford Motor Company Fund, Journeys, the Hot Topic Foundation and the RBC Foundation USA.

"Our GRAMMY in the Schools programs are designed to motivate and educate the next generation of passionate music makers," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation. "From GRAMMY Camp and GRAMMY Camp - Jazz Session, which give high school students the chance to experience what having a career in the music industry really looks like, to our GRAMMY Signature Schools programs that provide critical financial resources and public recognition to high school music programs across the country, these initiatives are engaging, effective and transformative."

Students and schools interested in participating in the 2015 GRAMMY Camp - Jazz Session and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs can apply at www.grammyintheschools.com. Completed applications are due Oct. 22 for both programs. Oct. 22 is also the early decision deadline for students interested in attending the 11th annual GRAMMY Camp to be held in summer 2015.

The GRAMMY Foundation is also pleased to announce that recordings from the Jazz Session program can now be purchased on iTunes, Amazon.com and other quality online music outlets. Albums released from 2007-2014 are now available for download. These projects were recorded at the world-famous Capitol Studios & Mastering (Universal Music Group) in Hollywood, Calif., by GRAMMY-winning engineers Manny Marroquin and Al Schmitt, and mastered by GRAMMY winner Bernie Grundman.

GRAMMY Camp - Jazz Session

High school (public, private, parochial, home-schooled, etc.) singers and instrumentalists are encouraged to audition for GRAMMY Camp - Jazz Session (formerly GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles). Selectees will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, the host city for the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Jan. 30-Feb. 9, 2015. Students will perform at high-profile GRAMMY Week events and recording sessions and will attend the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast on Feb. 8, 2015. Musical directors for the GRAMMY Camp - Jazz Session are Justin DiCioccio (Manhattan School of Music), Susanna Wegner (music professional) and Dr. Ron McCurdy (USC Thornton School of Music). Students are also eligible for college scholarships through the college incentive program (more than $2 million available) offered by program partners Berklee College of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and Manhattan School of Music. The school of each selectee will receive a professional cymbal courtesy of Zildjian. The GRAMMY Camp - Jazz Session program receives additional support from the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Zildjian, famous Capitol Studios & Mastering (Universal Music Group), CenterStaging, and Guitar Center.

GRAMMY Signature Schools

Just as the GRAMMY Award recognizes excellence in recording, the GRAMMY Foundation's GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top public high schools across the country for outstanding commitment to their music education programs. Each of the GRAMMY Signature Schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant to benefit its music program. The top programs are designated Gold recipients. The best of the Gold recipients is designated the National GRAMMY Signature School. For schools that are economically underserved, the GRAMMY Foundation established the Enterprise Award category to recognize the efforts in music education made by these schools. GRAMMY Signature Schools recipients are determined by a Blue Ribbon Committee, a panel of top music educators and professionals. The GRAMMY Signature Schools program is made possible in part through the generous support of the Ford Motor Company Fund.

The GRAMMY Foundation has also established the GRAMMY Signature Schools Community Award, an extension of the GRAMMY Signature Schools program. Through our partnership with the RBC Foundation USA, the Hot Topic Foundation, and Journeys, the GRAMMY Foundation identifies deserving public high school music programs to receive the award and a $2,000 grant. To date, approximately $875,000 in grants have been distributed to more than 800 schools.

GRAMMY Camp

The program offers selected high school students an interactive residential summer music experience. Focusing on all aspects of commercial music, this unique opportunity provides instruction by industry professionals in an immersive creative environment with cutting-edge technology in professional facilities. The program offers seven music career tracks: Audio Engineering; Electronic Music Production; Music Journalism; Music Business; Songwriting; a Performance Track for Bass, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Vocal, and Winds & Strings; and Video Production. All tracks culminate in media projects, recordings and/or showcase performances. Early decision applicants for GRAMMY Camp will receive a 10 percent tuition discount if selected to attend GRAMMY Camp. They receive this discount whether they are selected as part of the early decision process or drawn from the regular applicant pool. Applicants not selected via early decision will be reconsidered with the final pool of applications. The final GRAMMY Camp application deadline is March 31, 2015. In the past, approximately 80 percent of GRAMMY Camp participants who have applied for financial aid received assistance. This GRAMMY in the Schools program is supported by Journeys. Additional program support is provided by J*Davey Silverman, the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, the RBC Foundation USA, and other individual donors.

The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1988 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. In recognition of the significant role of teachers in shaping their students' musical experiences, the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy partnered to present the first Music Educator Award in 2014. Open to current U.S. music teachers in kindergarten through college, the second annual Music Educator Award will be given out during GRAMMY Week 2015. For more information about our music education programs, please visit www.grammyintheschools.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like "GRAMMY in the Schools" on Facebook, follow the GRAMMY Foundation on Twitter (@GRAMMYFdn), and join us on Instagram (@GRAMMYFdn).