Mike’s Music has been a proud sponsor of local arts organizations since 1995, including our scholarships for students pursuing post-secondary education in music.
Vernon Isaac Memorial Scholarship
Mike’s Music is pleased to present an award to the student who has demonstrated exemplary skills and a desire to pursue music with a concentration on saxophone.
In January 2000, Mike’s Music and the Friends of Vernon Isaac Society announced the founding of a memorial scholarship dedicated to Vernon Clarence Isaac, a great jazz saxophonist. Vernon performed with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, and Charlie Parker. His big band was a perennial crowd pleaser at the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. Vernon was a founding member and inspirational leader of Jazz Ottawa. In the early 1980’s, the Vernon Isaac Big Band was established by Vernon and provided many musicians in this community with a rich musical opportunity. Vernon died peacefully on December 16th, 1999.
The motivation for this scholarship is to perpetuate and preserve Vernon’s memory by presenting an annual award to a worthy jazz musician, as selected by the judges of the Capital Region Music Festival. The candidate must perform at least one improvised solo at the Capital Region Music Festival and must be able to demonstrate to their music teacher a thorough knowledge of all major and minor (harmonic, melodic, and natural) scales. The recipient must be intending to continue their musical studies at any accredited Canadian university or college with a concentration in saxophone. The scholarship will be forwarded to the educational institution chosen, on behalf of the recipient. This scholarship is open to all saxophone players participating in the Capital Region Music Festival jazz division. The student must be currently enrolled in their final year of high school.
More information about Vernon Isaac, please visit http://www.vernonisaac.org/award.htm
Carmelo Scaffidi Memorial Scholarship
Mike’s Music is pleased to present an award to the student who has demonstrated exemplary skills and will be pursuing post-secondary studies in music with a concentration in trumpet performance.
This scholarship will be awarded annually in memory of Carmelo Scaffidi, as selected by the judges of the Capital Region Music Festival. The candidate must perform at least one improvised solo at the Capital Region Music Festival and must be able to demonstrate to their music teacher a thorough knowledge of all major and minor (harmonic, melodic, and natural) scales. The recipient must be intending to continue their music studies at any accredited Canadian university or college, with a concentration in trumpet performance. This scholarship is open to all trumpet players participating in the Capital Region Music Festival. The student must be currently enrolled in their final year of high school.
Born in Ottawa, Carmelo emerged quickly as leader in the local musical community. With the RCMP Concert Band, from 1989 until its final performance in 1993, Carmelo was the lead trumpet player. He continued his trumpet studies with Lew Soloff (Blood Sweat and Tears) and Arnold Jacobs (Chicago Symphony). Most recently, he performed with Tito Jackson, The Funk Brothers, The Four Tops, Thelma Houston, The Former Ladies of The Supremes, and other great artists like Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack, and Melissa Manchester. He is remembered locally and internationally for his extraordinary musicianship, and can still be heard at every Ottawa Senators home game as the players rush on to the ice to the sound of his trumpet.
For more information about Carmelo Scaffidi, please visit http://www.carmeloscaffidi.com