The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is a one-time, non-renewable, need-based grant of up to $10,000 given in conjunction with full participation in From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship.
Each year, From the Top chooses approximately 20 pre-collegiate musicians ages 8-18 to receive the Award. The Award is given to driven and committed pre-collegiate musicians with financial need to help offset the often prohibitively expensive costs of studying classical music at a high level.
An application for the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is also an application to From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship program. You do not need to complete two separate applications. See the “How To Apply” section below for more instructions.
If you are selected as a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist, you must also participate fully in our Learning and Media Lab Fellowship program. The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award cannot be granted without full participation in our Fellowship program.
Award recipients will be announced in two classes annually: Fall (October 2023) and Spring (January 2024).
There is no application fee for the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.
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Am I eligible to apply?
You are eligible if you are: classical instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers (ages 8–18) who are full-time elementary, middle, or high school students, and have not yet entered college.
Applicants must demonstrate:
Strong musical commitment
- Applicants must have strong musical ability and a willingness to participate in our Learning and Media Lab Fellowship.
Unmet financial need
- The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is a need-based award. Applicants must provide evidence of a family income unable to meet the costs of his/her musical pursuits (new instruments, music lessons, summer festival tuition, and travel, etc.). 90% of our past recipients come from families with an annual household Adjusted Gross Income of under $60,000. While we do consider extenuating circumstances such as cost of living, medical expenses, dependents, etc., we do not encourage applicants with an annual household Adjusted Gross Income of over $100,000 to apply.
- COVID UPDATE: If your most recent tax return reflects something different from what your current employment situation projects, please include a detailed statement within the “Special Financial Circumstances” section at the end of the online application.
Educational engagement
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to learning and creativity, inside and outside of the classroom.
Strength of character
- Applicants must demonstrate drive, initiative, maturity, leadership, and a commitment to giving back to one’s community.
What are the application deadlines?
Application deadlines for the 2023-2024 season:
Saturday, April 15, 2023 (1st Fall 2023 JKCYAA Class deadline)Friday, September 1, 2023 (Final Fall 2023 JKCYAA Class deadline)Wednesday, November 15, 2023 (Spring 2024 JCKYAA Class deadline)
*The deadlines to be considered for the scholarship in the 2023-2024 season have now passed.
*High school seniors graduating in 2024 must apply by November 15, 2023. The scholarship can only be awarded to students who are still enrolled in high school or below.
From the Top will now be awarding the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award in two class announcements each year, Fall (October) and Spring (January).
- High School seniors graduating in 2023 are no longer eligible.
- To be considered for the first deadline of the JKCYAA Fall 2023 Class, all application materials must be received by April 15, 2023.
- High School seniors graduating in 2024 must apply by November 15, 2023 in order to be considered for the award before graduation.
If you have any questions about your status or eligibility, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions first. We can respond to any other questions at scholarship@fromthetop.org.
What are the award benefits?
- Up to $10,000 to apply toward instrument purchases, summer camp tuition, college audition travel expenses, private lessons, or other music-related needs
- Participation in From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab (includes appearance on NPR’s From the Top)
How do I apply?
Materials that you’ll need:
- At least two unedited, un-enhanced video or audio samples of your music for upload into the application portal
- Contact information for two teachers (an academic teacher and a music teacher) who are willing to write you recommendations. They will receive further instructions and forms after you’ve submitted your online application.
- A copy of your family’s most recent tax forms (including all schedules, attachments, and W2 forms), and a copy of your recent academic transcripts
- NOTE: We maintain a special secure-encrypted platform to receive these documents electronically, so please do not send these documents by mail or email. You will find more instructions in the online application.
NOTE:
The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award cannot be granted without full participation in our Fellowship program.
To apply for both opportunities, please fill out the Learning and Media Lab Fellowship Application. Towards the end of the application, you will be asked questions to determine your eligibility for the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be permitted to move forward in applying for the Award.
After clicking “next”, you will be directed to a new page, and will receive an email with the link to your Scholarship Supplement Form with instructions.
Please review the FAQs and Application Guide before starting your application.
If you have any questions not addressed in the FAQs, please e-mail scholarship@fromthetop.org or call (617) 437-0707 Ext.4.
Are you a returning applicant?
If you have previously applied for the From the Top Learning and Media Lab Fellowship, please e-mail auditions@fromthetop.org and we will give you access to our Application Update form.
