FOSTERING TOMORROW'S
JAZZ LEGENDS
Scholarships
Space Coast Jazz Society is proud to invest in the future of jazz. Through our scholarship programs, we're nurturing the next generation of jazz talent, providing them with resources to advance their careers.
SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION DEADLINE
March 14th, 2025
We award scholarships to graduating Brevard County high school seniors registered for continuing education each year. Applicants must be interested in furthering their studies in jazz music but do not need to major in music. The Scholarship money will be sent directly to the school they will be attending. The winners will be notified by email and letter, and also be contacted to arrange for rehearsals in preparation to PERFORM IN CONCERT ON SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2025, with a band provided by the Space Coast Jazz Society.
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2024 JAZZ
WINNERS
NATHAN JOST
Bayside High School
Awarded $1,000
CAIDEN COLLINS
Melbourne High School
Awarded $1,000
NATHAN JOST
Nathan started playing Jazz piano in 8th grade because his band director forced him to fill an empty spot. He didn't have any experience with piano before that, so he did his best to learn how to play for the Jazz band. Nathan fell in love with Jazz music during COVID-19 when the band director still gave them assignments to play certain parts. He had to listen to the recordings over and over to get it right. This caused his YouTube recommended videos to suggest music such as Art Blakey's Moanin' and Bill Evan's My Funny Valentine.
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He found mentors to help him understand how to play Jazz piano such as a good friend, Solaris, who was a few years ahead of him in High School. He also found Jazz pianist Emmet Cohen who inspires him to want a career in performing Jazz around the world and meet new musicians. One of Emmet Cohen's mentors was taught by the Jazz piano professor at Florida State University, William Peterson, and that's who he intends to study with.
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During his sophomore year in high school, he made it into the Brevard All-County Jazz Band directed by Leon Anderson from FSU. There, he met plenty of other musicians from other schools like Bridgette Setters, Jon Pinela (a 2023 Space Coast Jazz Scholarship winner), and Kayla Crider, who invited him to play with their student-run big band, The Brevard Youth Big Band. He also met a UF undergraduate, Alex Kaufman (one of our 2022 scholarship winners) and Nathan was invited to play in his trio.
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During Nathan’s Junior year, his High School Director awarded him the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for finding ways to play with the community and creating opportunities for others.Nathan also performed with the Space Coast Big Band and successfully made it into the Brevard All-County Jazz Band.
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Nathan begins his summer term at Florida State University and will major in Jazz Performance. As he enters this next chapter with Bill Peterson as his mentor, he plans to continue playing Jazz music wherever he goes.
CAIDEN COLLINS
Caiden has been fascinated with art and self-expression since he was young. He has considered career paths in many interests, including neuroscience and creative writing. But, no other form of art excites him like improvisation in jazz. His goal is to become a modern working musician and seek an education that aligns with his aspiration to become a contributor to the jazz communities that he admires.
He has auditioned for several high-level college jazz programs such as the University of Miami, Frost School of Music and Berklee College of Music.
Many teachers and instructors in Brevard County have influenced his interest in music and jazz throughout elementary, middle and high school, including private lessons.
Caiden’s appreciation for jazz grew even more when he was researching music on YouTube during the COVID lockdown in 2020. He was first introduced to online content about jazz made by Berklee alumni such as Adam Neely and Shawn Crowder. He also enjoyed listening to Emmet Cohen and artists performing at “Live from Emmet's Place” (NYC). Since then, he has been inspired by many iconic performers but John Coltrane in the 1960s is one of his top inspirations.
