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NEC's Highest Honor Goes to Jazz Studies

IIn the 40 years since NEC first established a full-fledged jazz performance program under Gunther Schuller in 1969, the department has never had the privilege of bestowing NEC's highest student honor, the Presidential Scholarship, on one of its own. Thanks to the family charity of jazz bassist and Board of Visitors member Jimmy Earl '81, that privilege now exists.

Through regular gifts, the Helena Foundation has substantially increased the value of the jazz scholarship established in 1995 by Earl's parents, James A. and Sylvia Earl, bringing it to the level required for a Presidential scholarship. This award joins two other funds whose value has been boosted to the Presidential level in recent months (link to story) to bring the total number of these prestigious scholarships at NEC to 14.

The new Helena Foundation Presidential Scholarship in Jazz Studies was awarded for the first time this fall to Dominik Wania, a virtuoso of classical piano who has recently turned his full attention to jazz.