Over the last 20 years, students in Talbot County have had tremendous opportunities to experience summer arts programs across the country to explore the visual, musical, performing and literary arts through the Talbot County Arts Council’s (TCAC) Summer Arts Scholarship Program. These summer camps, music camps, writing workshops, as well as private and group lessons in art, music, and writing have been critical to launching the professional careers in the arts for many Talbot County students.
Julian Brezon, who graduated from Easton High School in 2009, used his TCAC summer arts scholarships for saxophone lessons at the Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore. Today. Brezon teaches private music lessons with the New York Music Cooperative, a worker-owned lessons company he co-founded, as well as after school programs for the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. He was recently hired as a performer on Virgin Voyages’ new cruise line and hopes to return for a five-month contract after the current pandemic has subsided. He recently recorded his debut album, “The Deep Light.”
Brezon states, “I don’t think I would have been able to go on to study music and become a professional musician without access to the education I was able to get thanks to the TCAC scholarships. Public school band directors are typically not able to provide students with the one on one attention necessary to help a student develop a high level of playing. Private lessons are crucial from middle school on for any student who wants to study music at a high level.”
Brezon’s advice to high school students pursuing careers in music is to find a good teacher, or teachers, and apply themselves diligently to studying music theory, listening to challenging music, and practicing several hours a day.
Over the years, Talbot County students have participated in such national and statewide programs as Parsons School of Design in New York City; Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ; Washington School of Ballet in Washington, DC; Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD; Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia; Tanglewood Institute of Boston University; Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia; Stagedoor Manor in Sheldrake, New York; Delaware College of Art and Design in Wilmington, DE and dozens of other locations.
According to Joan Levy, Executive Director of the Talbot County Arts Council, “The Arts Council is very committed to the spirit of these scholarships and understands that the match can be a barrier to deserving students and their ability to participate. This year, we are working closely with other grant sponsors who have expressed a willingness to help students identify potential sources for the match.”
TCAC arts scholarships are available for Talbot County students now enrolled in the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grades. This is the twentieth year the Arts Council has offered scholarships to help students with outstanding artistic promise attend advanced programs in their artistic areas. The program is named in honor of the late Willard A. Lockwood, longtime president of the Arts Council, under whose guidance it was developed. Preference in selection goes to high school students with years of demonstrated experience and excellence in their area of the arts. Program funding comes from Talbot County and the Towns of Easton, Oxford, and St. Michaels.
There is no specific dollar limit to individual grant requests, but the amount asked of the Arts Council must be matched dollar-for-dollar by funds from other sources. (For example, if a program costs $1,000, no more than $500 may be requested from the Arts Council.) Eligible art studies include summer arts or music camps and art, music or literary programs, classes, or private lessons. While scholarship applications are due April 30, 2020, because of the current pandemic, extensions will be provided if students contact Joan Levy at [email protected]. It is preferred that applications be submitted electronically.
For further information on applying for the TCAC’s Summer Arts Scholarship Program, visit talbotarts.org or call 410-245-5195.
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