The GRAMMY Foundation® Launches Online Applications for GRAMMY in the Schools® Programs Supported in Part by Best Buy and Converse

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The GRAMMY Foundation® is currently accepting applications for its 2012 GRAMMY Camp®, GRAMMY Camp® – Jazz Session, (formerly GRAMMY® Jazz Ensembles) and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs for high school students and high school music programs. These programs are part of the Foundation's GRAMMY in the Schools® offerings and are supported in part by Best Buy and Converse.

"The GRAMMY Foundation's GRAMMY Camp and the GRAMMY Camp – Jazz Session are an ideal way for high school students to really experience what it's like to have a career in the music industry," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation. "And our GRAMMY Signature Schools program provides much needed financial resources to high schools to sustain their music programs. Overall, our GRAMMY in the Schools initiatives are helping to foster the next generation of music makers, and cultivate music in their daily lives."

Students and schools interested in participating in the 2012 GRAMMY Camp – Jazz Session and GRAMMY Signature Schools programs can apply at www.grammyintheschools.com. Completed applications are due by Oct. 22 for both programs. Oct. 22 is also the early decision deadline for students interested in attending the 8th annual GRAMMY Camp to be held in summer 2012. Early decision applicants will receive a 10 percent tuition discount if selected to attend GRAMMY Camp. They receive this discount whether they are selected as part of the early decision process or drawn from the regular applicant pool. Applicants not selected via early decision will be reconsidered with the final pool of applications. The final GRAMMY Camp application deadline is March 31, 2012. In the past, approximately 70 percent of GRAMMY Camp participants who have applied for financial aid received assistance.

The GRAMMY Foundation is also pleased to announce that the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles recordings can now be purchased on iTunes, Amazon.com and other quality online music outlets. The 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 albums are now available for download. These projects were recorded at the world-famous Capitol Recording Studios (EMI Music) in Hollywood, Calif., by GRAMMY-winning engineers Manny Marroquin and Al Schmitt, and mastered by GRAMMY winner Bernie Grundman.

GRAMMY Camp

The program offers selected high school students an interactive residential summer music experience. Focusing on all aspects of commercial music, this unique opportunity provides instruction by industry professionals in an immersive creative environment with cutting-edge technology in professional facilities. The program offers seven music career tracks: Audio Engineering; Concert Promotion/Production; Electronic Music Production; Marketing & Management, Music Journalism; Songwriting and a Performance Track for Bass, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Vocal, and Winds & Strings. All tracks culminate in media projects, recordings and/or showcase performances. GRAMMY Camp will be held at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and other professional venues throughout Los Angeles from July 14 – 23, 2012.

GRAMMY Camp® – Jazz Session

High school (public, private, parochial, home-schooled, etc.) singers and instrumentalists are encouraged to audition for the GRAMMY Camp® – Jazz Session (formerly GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles). Selectees will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, the host city for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Feb. 3 through Feb. 13, 2012. Students will participate in high-profile GRAMMY Week performances and recording sessions and will attend the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast on Feb. 12, 2012.

Musical directors for the GRAMMY Camp® – Jazz Session are Justin DiCioccio (Manhattan School of Music), Dr. Leila Heil (Colorado State University) and Dr. Ron McCurdy (USC Thornton School of Music). Students are also eligible for college scholarships through the college incentive program (more than $2 million available) offered by program partners Berklee College of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and Manhattan School of Music. The school of each selectee will receive a professional cymbal courtesy of Zildjian. The GRAMMY Camp – Jazz Session program receives additional support from the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Zildjian, Capitol Recording Studios (EMI Music), CenterStaging, and Guitar Center Hollywood.

GRAMMY Signature Schools

Just as the GRAMMY Award recognizes excellence in recording, the GRAMMY Foundation's GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top public high schools across the country for outstanding commitment to their music education programs. Each of the GRAMMY Signature Schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant to benefit its music program. The top programs are designated Gold recipients. The best of the Gold recipients is designated the National GRAMMY Signature School. The Enterprise Award category recognizes efforts made by schools that are economically underserved. GRAMMY Signature Schools recipients are determined by the Blue Ribbon Committee, a panel of top music educators and professionals.

The GRAMMY Foundation® was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy®, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. Campbell's Labels For Education program is proud to be the official education partner of the GRAMMY in the Schools programs. For more information, please visit www.grammyintheschools.com.

SOURCE GRAMMY Foundation