PAJWELL FOUNDATION BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: YULONG HUANG

Yulong Huang

The Bachelor’s Degree Program at Musicians Institute is pleased to announce that talented drummer Yulong Huang has been chosen as the winner of the Pajwell Foundation Bachelor of Music in Performance Scholarship at MI.  

A native of China, Yulong comes to MI with 11 years of experience playing drums with a focus on Fusion/Jazz and Progressive Metal genres and is currently enrolled in MI’s Bachelor Music in Composition (Scoring for Visual Media) program.

Upon learning of his scholarship award, he shared “First of all, the scholarship is an affirmation of my playing ability, and it encourages me to keep making progress.”

When asked why he chose to study at MI, Yulong shared that “I chose MI because there are many professional musicians in the school, and I can get valuable experience and opportunities to connect with the industry. Secondly, MI teachers are excellent, and the curriculum is flexible while ensuring the quality. I can learn any skill I want here, without any limitation. It gives me a lot of room for improvement.”  

Regarding his future career goals and aspirations, he added, “My dream is to become an excellent drummer and composer. I also want to make more contributions to the music industry, making good music with excellent musicians.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Yulong on winning this prestigious award, as he continues his studies and enjoys the many great experiences ahead at MI!

Special thanks to our charitable partner, the Pajwell Foundation for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide students like Yulong with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

https://www.themusiciansfoundation.org

2022 D’ADDARIO WOMEN IN DRUMS SCHOLARSHIP AT MUSICIANS INSTITUTE WINNER: KRITIKA MALHOTRA

Kritika Malhotra

Talented drummer Kritika Malhotra has been named as winner of the 2022 D’Addario Women in Drums Scholarship. Kritika comes to Musicians Institute from New Delhi, India with 8 years of playing, performing and writing experience and a specialization in progressive rock, odd meter time signatures and polyrhythms.

As a current Bachelor’s degree / Drum Program student, she decided to attend MI because “In my opinion, MI has one of the best curriculums relating to the music industry and the sheer amount of talented people present here is absolutely amazing.”

Kritika added that while at MI, “I want to learn all I can about the music industry and its various pathways, I want to grow as a drummer and as a musician, and I want to make connections with other musicians that will surely help me in the future.“

She shared “I believe MI has made me work for the skies and receiving this scholarship has certainly inspired and enthused me exponentially to become a better musician.”

Kritika sees her education as an important key to achieving her dreams, adding “With all the knowledge I gain from my time at MI, I want to first be an inspired musician and impart all this knowledge to people who want to become better musicians.”

Everyone at Musicians Institute congratulates Kritika on winning this very prestigious award!

Special thanks to our longtime industry partner, The D’Addario Music Foundation for  generously sponsoring this scholarship as a part of its ongoing  Music Education for Girls Initiative, which helps to provide talented students like Kritika with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

To learn more about the full line of D’Addario products click here: http://www.daddario.com

SPRING 2022 GREG PRIEST MEMORIAL DRUM SCHOLARSHIP AT MUSICIANS INSTITUTE WINNER: DHRUV MITTAL

Dhruv Mittal

The Drum Program at Musicians Institute and The Musicians Foundation are pleased to announce that talented multi-stylist drummer Dhruv Mittal has been named the winner of the Greg Priest Memorial Drum Scholarship. The scholarship was created to honor the memory, talent and artistic career of MI alumnus Greg Priest.

Dhruv comes to MI from Kanpur, India with 10 years of playing experience specializing in Funk, Prog-Rock and Modern Fusion. During his ongoing studies as a current AA Drum program student, he will focus on “studying my instrument better and gain a much better understanding of music in general. After spending two quarters at MI, I have formally learned the basics all over again and have been introduced to the endless possibilities that the drums are capable of.”   

When asked why he chose to study at MI, he shared that it was “because of its state-of-the-art facilities, and the faculty. I am blessed to be studying with extremely proficient teachers. In the little time that I have been at MI, they have completely changed my outlook on how I perceive playing and practicing.”

When asked what winning the scholarship means to him, Dhruv shared “being awarded with this scholarship is in line with my quest for excellence. It also gives me a validation that I am slowly starting to get better in a way I have always envisioned for myself. I feel extremely fortunate and honored.” 

He describes his future professional goals and aspirations as follows, “my biggest goal is to spend my time composing music with other musicians as well as playing as many gigs and tours as I can and finding my own niche in terms of my sound and my technique. Having graduated from IIT Kanpur, which is one of the most competitive and prestigious universities of India, I come from a very technical background. In some ways, the change from science to music is considered unorthodox by many. Which is why I want to work on my social media presence, make quality drumming content, and share my journey with other musicians.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Dhruv on the achievement of this prestigious award. We look forward to seeing him reach his full potential as he continues his studies at MI.

Special thanks to the family and friends of Greg Priest for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Dhruv with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

KYLE MATHIS MEMORIAL ROCK DRUM SCHOLARSHIP AT MUSICIANS INSTITUTE WINNER: ROBERT RODRIGUEZ

Robert Rodriguez

The Drum Program at Musicians Institute and The Musicians Foundation are pleased to announce that talented, multi-stylistic drummer Robert Francis Rodriguez has been named as the winner of the Kyle Mathis Memorial Rock Drum Scholarship. The scholarship was created to honor the memory and talents of the MI Drum program alumnus, Kyle Mathis.

Robert comes to MI from Denver, Colorado with 20 years of playing and performance experience in Jazz, Rock, Country and several other genres. During his studies as a Drum program student at MI, Robert intends to focus on “taking everything I’ve learned over the years and enhancing it in every conceivable way. I may have a lot of experience performing but I don’t know that much about the business side. I may have a lot of experience playing but I know that the teachers at MI can show so me so much more. It’s the type of school that can really help me work on my weaknesses while enhancing my strengths both musically and mentally.”   

Upon receiving his scholarship award, Robert acknowledged that he chose to study at MI because “it’s a phenomenal school, all of the teachers genuinely care about the students and every musician I’ve known that came out of MI has been highly successful. It’s a school that knows how build on your strengths and get you better every quarter.”

When asked what winning the scholarship means to him, Robert shared “it means everything, I’m a husband and father who is working three jobs. It’s genuinely hard to pay for school out of pocket the way that I do. The scholarships at MI legitimately made it possible for me to afford the program and that really means the world to me because it’s a life changing school.” 

He describes his future professional goals and aspirations as follows: “My goals are very much set in studio work/live performances. I really look up to guys like Rich Redmond whom make their living not only passing along knowledge but writing great albums and rocking out packed stadiums. My goal is to become proficient in performing, studio work, production and to have an understanding of the business in a way that would help me do music for a living. I know this program is a great stepping stone towards that dream.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Robert on the achievement of this award. We look forward to seeing him reach his full potential as he continues his studies at MI.

Special thanks to the family and friends of Kyle Mathis for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Robert with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

Kyle Mathis

2021 Chuck Silverman Memorial Drum Scholarship at Musicians Institute Winner: Dhruv Mittal

Dhruv Mittal

The Drum Program at Musicians Institute and The Musicians Foundation are pleased to announce that talented multi-stylist drummer Dhruv Mittal has been named the winner of the prestigious Chuck Silverman Memorial Drum Scholarship. The scholarship was created to honor the memory, exceptional talent and artistic career of longtime MI Drum faculty member Chuck Silverman.

Dhruv came to MI from Kanpur, India with 10 years of playing experience specializing in Funk, Prog-Rock and Modern Fusion. During his ongoing studies as a current AA Drum program student at MI, he will focus on “improving and mastering my craft, meeting musicians from all over the world and learning about the different music cultures of the world.”   

Upon receiving his scholarship award, Dhruv acknowledged that he chose to study at MI “because of its state-of-the-art facilities, curriculum and infrastructure; and because it offers an Associate’s degree and is conveniently located in Hollywood.”

When asked what winning the scholarship means to him, Dhruv shared “as someone wanting to gain proficiency in playing Latin-Jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms, being awarded with this scholarship is in line with my quest for excellence. I feel extremely fortunate and honored.” 

He describes his future professional goals and aspirations as follows “My biggest goal is to compose music with other musicians as well as playing as many gigs and tours as I can. Having graduated from IIT Kanpur, which is one of the most competitive and prestigious universities of India, I come from a very technical background. In some ways, the change from science to music is considered fairly unorthodox by many. Which is why I want to work on my social media presence, make quality drumming content, and share my journey with other musicians.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Dhruv on the achievement of this prestigious award. We look forward to seeing him reach his full potential as he continues his studies at MI.

Special thanks to the family and friends of Chuck Silverman for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Dhruv with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry.

Chuck Silverman

The Musicians Foundation
2020-2021

2021 EVANS DRUM SCHOLARSHIP at MUSICIANS INSTITUTE WINNER: DAMIAN FLORES

Damian Flores, 2021 Evans Drum Scholarship Winner

The Drum Program at Musicians Institute and The Musicians Foundation are pleased to announce that Yuma, Arizona native, Damian Flores has been named the winner of the prestigious Evans Drumhead Scholarship for spring 2021.

Damian’s strongest styles are Hip Hop and Jazz and during his studies, he plans to focus on “learning to do everything myself. My dad always said “If you want something done right, do it yourself”. So I’m learning to compose and perform drums from a producer’s perspective and not only as a drummer.”

Damian acknowledged that he chose to study at Musicians Institute because “in the long run, I would love to be involved in the LA scene. I’ve heard from several people, that MI is one the best possible entries to just getting into the scene from a networking point of view.”

He described his future professional goals as follows: “My dreams include going on multiple tours, composing and recording my original music, recording on dozens of records that allow me to pioneer the future of drumming, and to give in-person masterclasses that inspire the next generation to get into music.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Damian on this achievement. We look forward to seeing him reach his full potential while at MI.

Special thanks to our longtime industry partner, Evans Drumheads and The D’Addario Music Foundation for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Damian with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry. Evans has been a pioneer in drumhead design for over 50 years and is a committed supporter and advocate of music education.

To learn more about the full line of Evans Drumhead products click here.

The Musicians Foundation: 2020-21 GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency Awardee

Greg Priest Memorial Drum Scholarship at Musicians Institute Winner: Lina Anderberg

Lina Anderberg

The Drum Program at Musicians Institute and The Musicians Foundation are pleased to announce that Lina Anderberg has been named the winner of the prestigious Greg Priest Memorial Drum Scholarship, which was created to honor the life and career of MI alumnus Greg Priest.

When the talented, multi-stylistic drummer (pop, funk/soul, hybrid) was asked to share her thoughts about receiving this scholarship award, Lina stated: “This means so much to me, I can’t describe it in words. I’ve been trying to do my best in school, and this scholarship gives me an acknowledgment of what I’ve accomplished so far.  I’m very honored and grateful for this.” 

As a continuing student at MI, Lina described her educational experience as follows, “The teachers in the Drum program are the best, I’ve grown so much during my time at MI. I’m looking back at my first quarter when I could barely read a single note, and I cried every day for weeks, wanting to quit. I really want to thank my Reading, Technique, and Performance instructors for not giving up on me!  I want to give very special thanks to Fred Dinkins, who has great patience, sees all my weaknesses and gives me endless with tools to develop as a drummer and musician.”

Lina Anderberg

She acknowledged that her future professional goals and career aspirations have evolved during her studies at MI.  Lina shared that “I’ve developed a big interest in modern pop-country music, and the artists I’d like to play with live in Nashville, so I’m thinking about moving there after I graduate. I also have a strong interest in songwriting and playing multiple instruments.  That’s something I want to continue working on and hopefully write songs for other people.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Lina on this achievement. We look forward to seeing her reach her full potential while at MI.

Greg Priest

Greg Priest

We thank the family and friends of MI alum Greg Priest for their generous support of this scholarship and the education of a deserving MI Drum student.

2019-2020 GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency

Spring 2020 Evans Drum Scholarship at Musicians Institute Winner: Lina Elina Anderberg

Lina Elina Anderberg

The Drum Program at Musicians Institute and The Musicians Foundation are pleased to announce that Lina Elina Anderberg, (who comes to MI by way of Sweden) has been named the winner of the prestigious Evans Drumhead Scholarship for spring 2020.

The multi-stylistic drummer (pop, funk/soul, hybrid) has been playing and performing for the past 7 years. When asked to share her thoughts about receiving this scholarship award, Lina stated: “This scholarship literally means everything to me, financially but it’s also an acknowledgement that all my hours in the practice rooms pay off, and I’m motivated to keep up the speed and energy!”

During her studies, she plans to focus on “my reading, learning more about rudiments, technique, and improving my theory/ear training skills”.

Lina acknowledged that she chose to study at Musicians Institute because “I’ve been wanting to be a student at MI since I started to play drums.  I have many friends that went to MI, and I’ve heard so many positive things about this school. There are many talented students here from all over the world, and I can get so much knowledge and inspiration from people here. I wanted to take a huge step in my education, and I chose MI because I feel like I can develop my musical skills the way I want to, and I also have all the opportunities to learn other instruments and programs like Ableton at MI.”

She described her future professional goals as follows: “my goal is to be on tour all over the world and have a dope drum tech!”

Everyone at MI congratulates Lina on this achievement. We look forward to seeing her reach her full potential while at MI.

Special thanks to our longtime industry partner, Evans Drumheads and The D’Addario Music Foundation for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Lina with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry. 

Evans has been a pioneer in drumhead design for over 50 years and is a committed supporter and advocate of music education.

To learn more about the full line of Evans Drumhead products click here.

2019-2020 GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency

Fall 2019 Evans Drum Scholarship Winner: Hayden Loewen

Drum faculty member Jeff Bowders (l.) with Hayden Loewen

The Drum Program at Musicians Institute and The Musicians Foundation are pleased to announce that Hayden Loewen, from Las Vegas Nevada has been named the winner of the prestigious Evans Drumhead Scholarship for fall 2019.

The Prog-rock and alternative rock drummer has been playing and performing for the past 9 years.  During his studies at MI, Hayden plans to focus on “learning how to record and produce drums as well as my knowledge of music in general.  I want to continue to expand my vocabulary as a player and network with as many other musicians as possible and much more.”

Upon receiving his scholarship award, Hayden acknowledged that he chose to study at Musicians Institute because “I was so captivated by the program and the amount of opportunities available within the industry.”

He described his future professional goals as follows: ”I want to be a successful drummer within the music industry, whether it’s in a band, as a performer, studio artist, or session drummer.”

Everyone at MI congratulates Hayden on this achievement, which marks a great beginning to his studies. We look forward to seeing his reach his full potential while at MI.

Special thanks to our longtime industry partner, Evans Drumheads and The D’Addario Music Foundation for generously sponsoring this scholarship, which helps to provide talented students like Hayden with the support, tools and recognition they need to launch successful and creative careers in the music industry. 

Evans has been a pioneer in drumhead design for over 50 years and is a committed supporter and advocate of music education.

To learn more about the full line of Evans Drumhead products click here.

2019 GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency