Beverly Clifton Scholarships
To further our mission as a nonprofit, we proudly announce two opportunities of financial support in the name of Bev Clifton, a major supporter of jazz in the Denver community. These awards are for students of jazz in Colorado, and are intended to support educational costs of students committed to pursuing a career in jazz performance and/or composition. Send supporting materials (audition recording if applicable, and reference letters) to nicolette@giftofjazz.org
Award One:
This award is designed to provide educational funding (up to $1,500) for the aspiring high school or college jazz musician in Colorado with plans of pursuing a career as a musician. Criteria are as follows:
- Accepted enrollment in established extracurricular music program or Full-time student majoring in music with an emphasis in jazz
- Maintaining overall 2.5 GPA or higher
- Submission of an audition recording. Link or file can be send to nicolette@giftofjazz.org
- Two letters of reference, including one from the student’s music instructor. Link or file can be send to nicolette@giftofjazz.org
- Fully completed Gift of Jazz Scholarship Application Form
- Deadline: Application submitted no later than May 31. Award announced in mid-June.
Award Two:
This award provides a student with fully-paid tuition for Gift of Jazz classes (open teens through adults). Included are three 8-week class sessions (Fall, Winter, Spring; a $175 value per session) on Saturdays in a given academic year. Criteria are as follows:
- Enrollment in a Front Range public high school, with an overall 2.5 GPA or higher
- Fully completed Gift of Jazz Scholarship Application Form
- Statement establishing need
- Two letters of reference, one music related. Link or file can be send to nicolette@giftofjazz.org
- Commitment to an end-of-class public performance (consistent with the performance requirements established for all Gift of Jazz class enrollees)
- Deadline: Application submitted no later than May 31, along with statement of need and letters of reference. Award announced in mid-June for Fall program beginning September.
Gift of Jazz Scholarship Application Form
Past Recipients
Past recipients of the Gift of Jazz Beverly Clifton Scholarships include…
Chris Ferrari – Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Chris is a saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist currently studying at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Chris has received national recognition through programs like the 2017 Vail Jazz Workshop, the inaugural NYO Jazz Orchestra, and numerous National YoungArts awards. Now entering his final year of college (having studied under Miguel Zenón, Melissa Aldana, Frank Carlberg, Donny McCaslin, and Jerry Bergonzi), Chris is focused on developing his own sound and personal style, one which pays respect to the tradition of the music, while stretching the possibilities of improvisational freedom and compositional creativity. He hopes to release an album of his original music within the next year.
Levi Rodriguez – Jazz Pianist, Composer, Arranger, and Orchestrator from San Antonio, Texas, USA. He began his formal education in classical piano at 10 years old and gained a serious interest in jazz piano at W. H. Taft high school, earning a selection as a TMEA Texas All-State Jazz pianist by his junior year. Most recently, he has formed the 18-piece ensemble “Levi Rodriguez Big Band”, performing his original compositions and arrangements of standard jazz repertoire. In fall of 2022, he will be attending the New School of Jazz and Contemporary music and study towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus on Jazz Piano performance.
