On July 23rd, 2019, thirteen Uptown Music Collective students were awarded scholarships for the nonprofit school of music’s 2019-2020 school year, totaling a value of $19,575, with an additional $3,000 being added to the Collective’s Financial Aid Fund. Funding was made possible through the generous donations of the local community, including both individual and corporate donors. All thirteen scholarships awarded will each cover one full year at the school of music.

The Uptown Music Collective, which is going into its 20th year of serving the local community has stood by a policy of never turning away a deserving student due to financial reasons since its founding in 2000. To live up to its policy, teachers from the school would take students in need as pro bono students, or the school would cover the expenses of the student’s lessons.

In 2009 the Collective offered its first scholarship, The Alice Hileman Memorial Scholarship, which was created and funded by a generous anonymous donor. That scholarship was soon followed by the Lew Gilberti Memorial Scholarship, created by family and friends in memory of local businessman/musician Lew Gilberti. The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania are the stewards of the Gilberti scholarship.

Two years ago, the Uptown Music Collective quintupled its scholarship offerings and formalized a new sliding scale discount rate which allows it to help even more students in need. Aside from the generous donations of the individuals and local businesses, the financial aid being offered is the result of the school’s highly successful Scholarship Fundraising Concert held for the past three Januarys at the Community Arts Center.

“Our scholarship program continues to grow with each year that passes,” says Jared Mondell, UMC Assistant Executive Director. “We are so incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support this program continues to receive. We plan to continue to grow this program in the coming years with the goal of being able to help as many current and potential Collective students that may need assistance.”

The 2019-2020 scholarship winners include Sofia Pinsky, who was awarded The Brickyard Restaurant and Ale House Scholarship, and Ashlyn Bird who was awarded The Stonehouse Wood Fired Pizza and Pasteria Scholarship. Abigail Jamison and Molly Chapman were awarded the Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships Scholarships. Connor Evans was awarded the River Valley Transit Scholarship. Alonzo Chapman was awarded the UPMC Susquehanna Scholarship. Easton Wagner was awarded the Guitarley’s Scholarship. Noah Joy was awarded the Angelina’s Song scholarship. Cade Palmatier was awarded the Colonel’s Community Scholarship, a scholarship made possible by the local Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Loyalsock. Kenni Powell was awarded the Uptown Music Collective Staff Scholarship. Gabreon Godin received the Lew Gilberti Memorial Scholarship and Nadia Evans received the Alice Hileman Memorial Scholarship. The newest scholarship at the Collective, The Miller Family Scholarship in honor of Amanda Miller was awarded to Cecilia Lutz.

In the last 19+ years, the Uptown Music Collective has grown from what many used to call “the best-kept secret in the Williamsport area,” to one of the area’s most highly respected, non-profit, educational organizations. The school is dedicated to providing a well-rounded education to students of all ages, from children as young as 3 years old to retired adults and everyone in-between. The Collective is known for its positive peer group, inspiring teachers, and a diverse multitude of performance opportunities.

In spite of the fact that the Collective is known for highly talented student performers, there is no previous experience needed to begin enrollment at the Collective. The Collective is set to begin it’s 2019 Fall Semester on Tuesday, September 3rd. There are currently openings for students of all levels who are looking for private instruction as well as looking to participate in the school’s classes and workshops. The school feels strongly about the role of music in creating well-rounded, thoughtful young people, and works to establish characteristics such as self-discipline and personal responsibility in each of its students through healthy habits such as practice and self- control. Uptown Music Collective students consistently perform at high levels not only musically, but also in their respective schools and as valuable members of other community organizations.

For more information about the Collective’s Scholarship Program, or the school in general, contact them at 570-329-0888 or visit www.uptownmusic.org for more details.