Williamsport, Pa. — The Uptown Music Collective is pleased to announce the awarding of 15 scholarships for the school of music’s 2024-2025 school year, totaling $27,000.
Funding was made possible through the generous donations of the local community, including both individual and corporate donors. Each of the 15 scholarships awarded will cover one full year at the school.
In its 24th year of serving the local community, the Uptown Music Collective has stood by its promise to never turn away a deserving student due to financial reasons, a policy in place since its founding in 2000. In its early days, teachers would accept students in need on a pro bono basis or the school would cover the expenses of the students' lessons.
In 2009, the non-profit Collective offered its first scholarship, The Alice Hileman Memorial Scholarship, which was created and funded by Hileman’s daughter. That scholarship was soon followed by the Lew Gilberti Memorial Scholarship, created by family and friends in memory of local businessman/musician Lew Gilberti.
Seven years ago, the Uptown Music Collective significantly increased its scholarship offerings and formalized a new sliding-scale discount rate that allows the school to help even more students in need. Aside from the generous donations from individuals and local businesses, the financial aid being offered is the result of the school’s highly successful Scholarship Fundraising Concert held every January at the Community Arts Center.
“We are incredibly proud of the growth of our scholarship program throughout the years,” said Jared Mondell, UMC Assistant Executive Director. “The community has assisted in meeting a critical need for our students that allows them to learn their instrument, grow as students, and gain valuable skills that will last a lifetime.”
The Alice Hileman Memorial Scholarship has evolved since its creation and now is a merit-based scholarship awarded to a graduating Collective senior. This year’s Hileman Scholarship, under the stewardship of Alice’s daughter, was awarded to UMC Senior Gabreon Godin, who is beginning his journey at Berklee College of Music.
The 2024-2025 UMC scholarship recipients include Lewis Shaffer and Grace Godin, Hudock Capital Group Scholarships; Madaket Saner and Owen Scarfo, Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital Scholarships; Allison Chapman, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships Scholarship; Caiden Scarfo, UPMC North Central Pa Scholarship; Makayla Flourney-Brown, UPMC Health Plan Scholarship; Evan Hofmann, Chartwell Hotels LLC Scholarship; Elliana Williams, Kiessling Group of Janney Montgomery Scott Scholarship; Kaelynn Hofmann, Angelina’s Song Scholarship; Tixo Bower, Colonel’s Community Scholarship, made possible by the UMC’s partnership with the local KFC restaurant in Loyalsock Township; Gianna Waldman, Uptown Music Collective Staff Scholarship; Mackenzie Hakes, the Lew Gilberti Memorial Scholarship; Nathaniel McClelland, Brickyard/Stonehouse Scholarship; and Isabel Butters, The Miller Family Scholarship in honor of Amanda Miller.
In the last years 24+ 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.
Although 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 its 2024 Fall Semester the first week of September. There are currently openings for students of all levels who are looking for private instruction on drums, bass, guitar, and vocals. 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 like 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, Partnership Program, or the school in general, call 570-329-0888 or visit www.uptownmusic.org for more details.
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