SK Scholarship - The DIVA Jazz Orchestra

“If you LOVE [drumming] you will definitely succeed as a player. If you LIKE it, you should do something else!”

STANLEY KAY

Stanley Kay Scholarship

DIVA honors the musical legacy, integrity, creativity, and excellence of our founder Stanley Kay through a scholarship offering an opportunity for a seriously swingin’ drummer between the ages of 15 -22 to attend a summer jazz camp of their choosing.

The $500 award will be paid directly to the winner's summer jazz camp of choice.

More About Stanley

donate to the stanley kay scholarship fund

Help us continue to honor Stanley Kay's legacy each year in helping a talented young drummer go a little bit further.

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HOW TO Apply

Applications for 2019 will be accepted starting April 15, 2019 and must be postmarked no later than June 03, 2019

A cover letter expressing WHY this opportunity would make a difference in the applicant’s musical life. Be sure to include up-do-date contact information in the form of postal and email addresses.

A CD, DVD, mp3, or link to video of the applicant’s drumming. Preferred if tracks are edited to include only the melody/head, any shout-type choruses, and solos/trading. If full-length tracks are submitted, applicant should include time cues indicating where on each track the shout chorus and soloing can be found. Three tracks are required, one selection in each of these styles:

a) Medium or up-tempo swing
b) Ballad or slow swing
c) Either Afro-Cuban (mambo, songo, cha-cha, etc.) or Brazilian (samba, bossa-nova, baiao, etc.)

A letter of recommendation from a music teacher (private teacher, band director, regional ensemble conductor, etc.).

Important Notes

Cover letter, recording/links, and recommendation letter must be submitted together. Applications can be emailed to Sherrie Maricle at smaricle@ptd.net with “SK Scholarship” in the subject line. Hard-copy packets may be sent to The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, 1 River Place, Suite 817, New York, NY 10036, with “SK Scholarship” written on the envelope flap.

CDs, DVDs, and other application materials cannot be returned

PAST Winners

Some of the young drummers who have won in past years.

Anthony Pacheco is a student currently finishing his Commercial Music degree at The University Of Texas at El Paso. He has become a versatile Drummer/Percussionist involved with the Marching Band, Symphony Band, Jazz Band and Percussion Ensembles at UTEP. He frequently performs around the El Paso area playing with a variety of musicians and bands from Jazz, Blues, Musicals, Country, Funk, Latin, and Rock. He has been a part of the El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble and plays in The El Paso Eklectic Jazz Ensemble. He has also been involved in helping local middle and high school students with their Jazz Band Rhythm Sections as well as Percussion. He teaches private lessons to students of all ages as well as working as a full time Drum Instructor at River Moon Records. He has played with local and touring artist such as Brian Mars, Geoff Gallante, Sam Barlow and Billy Townes.

Anthony Pacheco (2019)