LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – Live Nation and the Music Forward Foundation have announced the recipients of the 2024 scholarships. Five college students pursuing careers in the live entertainment and music industry received scholarships totaling $50,000.
These students were selected for their academic achievement, leadership abilities and commitment to pursuing a career in the live entertainment field.
Scholarship recipients for 2024 include Adina Aaron, Cristian Meza, Jasmine Gordon, Michael Brown and Raagavi Venkatesh.
“At Music Forward, we help young people pursue careers in the music and live entertainment industries,” said Nurit Smith, executive director of the Music Forward Foundation. “With the support of our generous partners, we are once again able to award impactful scholarships to deserving young people, providing a wealth of opportunities as they strive to achieve their goals and dreams.”
Adina Aaron, a junior business administration major at USC, received a $10,000 Live Nation Scholarship. She plans to explore various roles in the music industry while continuing her artistic pursuits.
“Winning [the Live Nation Scholarship is] This has been a huge help in supporting my education and removing financial barriers that were standing in the way of my dreams,” Aaron said. “With rising tuition and living costs, this scholarship [gives] I need to focus on my studies and take advantage of opportunities to develop my career. it [will] It also helped me avoid accumulating student loan debt and allowed me to pursue my passion without worrying about financial burdens.
Cristian Meza is a senior majoring in entertainment technology at New York City Polytechnic and received a $10,000 Governors Ball scholarship. Inspired by his immigrant background and personal drive, his goal was to become an audio engineer and open his own music venue.
“This scholarship means a lot to me,” Mesa said. “When I first started this journey, I was always told that I couldn’t achieve my dreams, and receiving this scholarship shows that I know there are people who believe in me and that my dreams are achievable. I want to thank everyone who doesn’t believe My man, because it makes me want it even more.
Jasmine Gordon, a senior majoring in comparative women’s studies at Spelman College, received the $10,000 Tiffany Green Operator Scholarship. She is passionate about branding and marketing urban music and is dedicated to mentoring future industry leaders.
“Receiving this scholarship has profound meaning to me and was a key factor in my continuing to attend my school,” Gordon said. “This scholarship is awarded in honor of Live Nation’s first female concert production specialist. Established to embody the pioneering spirit of women in live entertainment, becoming a recipient inspires me to strive for excellence and set an example for other aspiring young women to make their mark in the industry.
Michael Brown, a sophomore audio production major at Howard University, received the $10,000 David E. Ballard Scholarship. This scholarship supports young people who have experienced homelessness and/or been part of the foster care system and are pursuing careers in live entertainment.
“I want to send a huge thank you to Music Forward for investing in all of my dreams and making them worthwhile,” Brown said. “When I first started my college journey, I knew there were risks due to a lack of funds, and I had no idea how my situation would pan out. Not only was I a first-generation college student, but I also came from a low-income family and had struggled with homelessness in the past. Returners struggle, so I decided that betting on myself was not an easy choice.
Raagavi Venkatesh, a senior music industry major at Drexel University, received the $10,000 Steven J. Finkel Distinguished Service Scholarship and demonstrated her abilities by organizing a campus concert.
