Active Scholarship Initiatives

Alex Frank was a fixture in the Detroit rock music scene. Before his passing, he asked family and friends to honor his memory by providing tangible support for aspiring young musicians. The Alex Frank Scholarship Fund was created at Berklee to fulfill his wishes. A gift to this fund provides scholarship support for young rock musicians who have the talent, dedication, and commitment to create great rock music but lack the financial resources to reach their dreams.

Danny loved making music, as well as helping younger percussionists learn and succeed. Although Danny’s career at Berklee was only just getting started, he formed a deep connection to the school in a short period of time, creating strong bonds with a large, close-knit group of friends and musical collaborators. In memory of Danny, the Salazar family has established this scholarship fund to celebrate Danny’s passion, service, and love of music, and to ensure that future students like Danny are able to see their dreams come true at Berklee.

The Danroy “DJ” Henry Social Change Scholarship at Berklee was created in honor of Danroy “DJ” Henry, a Pace University student from Easton, Massachusetts, whose life was cut short in 2010 at the age of 20. Based on the guidance of his parents, Dan and Angella, the scholarship will support Berklee College of Music and/or Boston Conservatory at Berklee students who are financially and academically deserving with the potential to make a significant contribution to society through the performing arts.

When Deanna Kidd joined Berklee’s music education faculty in the 1970s she became the college’s first woman professor. Music was Deanna’s life; as an arts educator and performer, she loved being in front of the classroom and audiences. Her husband, former Berklee faculty member Tom Szymczak, established this scholarship fund in her memory. A gift to this fund ensures that Deanna’s legacy lives on.

Dr. Jarritt Ahmed Sheel was a dynamic educator, musician, artist, and mentor to colleagues and students alike. His work around hip-hop pedagogies, a DIY aesthetic, and culturally responsive/relevant teaching methods will impact the field of music education through everyone whose lives he touched. Your financial gifts will help to expand Jarritt’s legacy by providing scholarship funds for deserving students in music education and at Boston Conservatory.

Faith Lueth was a devoted teacher and musician who served as an important member of Berklee’s music education faculty for many years. Her family and friends established the Faith Lueth Memorial Endowed Scholarship to honor her passion for her students and their success. A gift to this scholarship will honor Faith’s legacy in perpetuity by providing scholarship support for students majoring in music education.

Berklee honors the continuing legacy of Fred Taylor with the establishment of the Fred Taylor Endowed Scholarship Fund, spearheaded by Grace Kelly BM ’11. The scholarship is designed to nurture gifted and deserving students who are in need of financial assistance and who are studying in the areas of music business/management and professional music.

Contributions to the Jason Jurman Endowed Scholarship Fund will help create an endowed scholarship for promising young theater students. Once the $50,000 goal is met, generations of aspiring artists like Jason will be able to attend Boston Conservatory at Berklee and receive the distinction of becoming a Jason Jurman Scholar.

Joey DeFrancesco was a renowned multi-instrumentalist who was widely regarded as the preeminent Hammond organ player in the world. Throughout his storied career, he released over 30 albums as a leader, was nominated for a Grammy Award five times, recorded with the greatest jazz musicians of his era, and toured internationally. To continue his legacy and inspire the next generation of jazz musicians, his wife, Gloria DeFrancesco, along with Berklee has established the Joey DeFrancesco Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will support jazz instrumentalists who are financially and academically deserving.

The John “Arch” Ellsworth Endowed Scholarship Fund was established by Brenda Friend Brandt (Boston Conservatory at Berklee ’76), and Arch’s two children, Avery Ellsworth and Anna Victoria Ellsworth, in May 2021. His scholarship was conceived with a devotion to Arch (who passed away in 2015) and to honor his spirit of dedication to giving all students (particularly those from underprivileged and underserved backgrounds) opportunities for a high-quality education in the arts and humanities. By endowing the John "Arch" Ellsworth Scholarship, we hope to honor Arch's memory and support students at Berklee who are financially and academically deserving.

When Liam Crone received a Berklee World Tour Scholarship, he felt enormous pride for the recognition of his tremendous talent and musicianship. As a wonderful acknowledgement of this, the Crone family has established the Liam Crone Memorial Scholarship to celebrate Liam’s life, his passion for music, and strong connection to Berklee, and to provide the means for other Berklee students to experience this in turn.

Michael Rendish was a beloved Berklee faculty member, academic leader and innovator, and alumnus who made an immeasurable impact at Berklee and contemporary music education. Throughout his long and storied career, Michael was the founding chair of the Harmony Department, founding chair of the electronic music program, assistant chair of the Film Scoring Department, and founding course author and professor for Berklee Online, where he taught for 22 years. Contributions to this fund will celebrate Michael's continuing legacy at Berklee and provide an annual award for deserving students in the Screen Scoring program.

Ramon Stagnaro was a guitarist and guitar soloist extraordinaire who will forever remain in the memories of those who were ever touched by his music and great artistry. We hope to honor Ramon's memory and also support students at Berklee who are financially and academically deserving, with the potential to make a significant contribution to society through music. Preference will be given to guitar principals who are majoring in performance and have a strong knowledge of Latin music and culture.

This fund will help Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee students who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need to continue their studies and graduate with less debt. Student success was a personal priority for Roger, so members of the community who are interested in recognizing his incredible service are invited to support this initiative in his honor.