Live Nation, in partnership with the nonprofit Music Forward Foundation, announced the recipients of its 2021 scholarship awards. Five outstanding college students pursuing music industry careers have been awarded a total of $45,000 in scholarships.
This year’s diverse group of gifted scholarship recipients were selected based on academic performance, leadership skills and a passionate commitment to the live entertainment experience. Recipients of this year’s awards include Holly Grace Jamili, a student at New York University, who is a Recorded Music major with a minor in Entertainment, Media, & Technology and a focus on elevating live music experiences through technological innovation; Tandrea Hawkins, a Music Business major and Hip Hop studies minor at Columbia College Chicago, a self-managed rapper who also runs a platform for underground college artists to showcase their artistry; Jalen Holloway, an Arts Leadership and Administration major and Music minor at Queens University of Charlotte, a veteran and multi-instrumentalist who has made dean’s list every semester of his college career; Kayla Erhardt, a Music Business major and Marketing minor at Berklee College of Music, who is finding recent success with her original music placed in television network shows; and Will Keebler, a Minnesota State University-Mankato junior, with a passion for live entertainment who leads outdoor live music events on campus.
“Live Nation is committed to supporting the future of live entertainment through our unique scholarship program,” said Mark Campana, chief operating officer, Live Nation Concerts. “We are dedicated to amplifying voices and providing opportunities for the next generation as we return to live and beyond.”
Holly Grace Jamili, a 20-year-old junior at New York University majoring in Recorded Music with a minor in Entertainment, Media, & Technology, is this year’s recipient of the $10,000 Steven J. Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship. The scholarship was established to award students who are passionate about improving the live music experience for fans and artists.
Jamili, from Los Angeles, California, is a Tisch School of the Arts Dean’s Scholar and has served as marketing chair for the NYU Program Board. While pursuing her Recorded Music degree, she has held entertainment internship positions at Paradigm Talent Agency, The Orchard, ViacomCBS and is currently a Touring & Events intern at Columbia Records. Her course work and internship experience are focused on the metaverse and the use of technology to connect fans and artists leading to new immersive experiences for the live music customer.
“This scholarship is a representation of the support I have received from family, friends, advisors, teachers, and every colleague I have met at my internships that have helped me come this far academically and professionally,” said Jamili. “The Steven J. Finkel Service Excellence Scholarship reassures me that I have the potential to leave an impact on the future of the music industry.”
The $10,000 Tiffany Green Operator Scholarship was established by Live Nation to support women pursuing careers in live entertainment. This year’s recipient is Chicago, Illinois native Tandrea Hawkins, a 20-year old senior at Columbia College Chicago and talented independent artist. Hawkins, a Music Business major with a concentration in Artist Management and a minor in Hip Hop Studies, maintains a 3.9 GPA. She has held Artist Relations and Social Media internship positions with Music Forward Foundation and Chicago’s WVON and has also performed on the Citi See Her, Hear Her stage at Governor’s Ball in 2019.
A first generation college student, Hawkins has been producing live events highlighting young artists since she was in high-school and in 2020 she co-founded Fusion of Light Entertainment, a platform for college students, by college students dedicated to showcasing underground young artists in Chicago.
“Receiving this scholarship lets me know that there are people who believe in me and my plans for the music industry,” said Hawkins. “It means that I have more of a responsibility to continue doing my very best in executing my vision, and I cannot wait to see what I am able to make of it!”
For additional information, visit livenationentertainment.com.
