Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
Offered by From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
About this scholarship
The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is a one-time, need-based grant of up to $10,000 for exceptional pre-collegiate classical musicians. Funds may pay for an instrument, private lessons, summer program tuition, college-audition travel, or other approved music-development expenses; the award cannot be used for ordinary college tuition. About twenty musicians receive the award each year. Selection is integrated with From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship, so applicants complete one fellowship application and answer additional financial-aid questions when the portal confirms eligibility. Recipients must participate fully in the six-week remote fellowship, complete a community-engagement project, and record an appearance for From the Top’s national broadcast or podcast. Eligible applicants are classically trained instrumentalists, vocalists, or composers ages 8–18 who are full-time elementary, middle, or high school students and have not entered college. The program considers musical ability, unmet financial need, educational engagement, character, leadership, and service. Current deadlines are September 1 and November 9, 2026 and May 1, 2027; seniors graduating in 2027 must apply by November 9.
Eligibility
- Be a classical instrumentalist, vocalist, or composer between ages 8 and 18
- Be enrolled full time in elementary, middle, or high school and not yet have entered college
- Live or study in the United States for the majority of the year
- Demonstrate strong musical ability and commitment
- Document unmet financial need affecting advanced music study
- Submit at least two unedited music recordings, tax documentation, transcripts, and two teacher contacts
- Participate fully in the Learning and Media Lab Fellowship if selected
- If graduating high school in 2027, submit by the November 9, 2026 deadline