For Immediate Release
The 2021 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Scholarship Recipients Announced
(top row) Jensen McRae, Lester London, Tamara Jade, Dominique Pecchio and Aria Lisslö (bottom row) Ayoni Thompson. Julia Shuren, Abigail Barlow, David Mercado and Isabella Lee
New York, N.Y.- June 8 2021- The 2021 recipients of the Abe Olman Scholarships for Excellence in Songwriting, The NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award, The Curtis Mayfield Scholarship Award, The USC Thornton School of Music Scholarship Award and The Songwriters of Tomorrow Scholarship have been selected, SHOF President & CEO Linda Moran announced today.
Recipients of the Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting are selected by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC from their membership. Abe Olman, for whom this program is named, was both a major figure in the music publishing community and a songwriter himself, in addition to being one of the founders of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Abe Olman Scholarships, given out annually since 1990, have been made possible by his family in the interest of encouraging and supporting the careers of young songwriters. In 2002, one such recipient was John Stephens, whose scholarship funds enabled him to finish his first album which went on to win a GRAMMY under his professional name of John Legend. In 2007 he was presented with the SHOF's coveted Hal David Starlight Award.
This year's Abe Olman Scholarship recipients are:
Abigail Barlow (ASCAP)
Tamara Jade (SESAC)
Aria Lisslö (BMI)
Jensen McRae (ASCAP)
Dominique Pecchio (BMI)
The USC Thornton School of Music Scholarship Award is given annually to a student songwriter who demonstrates exceptional professional potential through their art, craft and personal character as determined by the faculty of the Popular Music Program and Division of Contemporary Music. The 2021 recipient is graduating senior Ayoni Thompson.
The Songwriters of Tomorrow Scholarship is awarded to a high school senior attending a New York City public school, demonstrating the talent and desire to learn the craft of songwriting. The student is chosen based on an original song (lyrics and music), and the scholarship will extend an opportunity to pursue a career in music. The 2021 recipient is Isabella Lee.
The Curtis Mayfield Scholarship Award recognizes a promising singer/songwriter whose work reflects the inspiration, spirit and soul of SHOF inductee Curtis Mayfield. Lester London is the recipient for 2021.
The NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award is presented to music composition students whose work holds great potential for success in the field, and embodies the art, craft, individuality and qualities of communication of the best songwriting. David Mercado and Julia Shuren are the 2021 NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar awardees.
More information regarding all of the 2021 recipients can be found in the Education section of the songhall.org website.About The Songwriters Hall of Fame: The Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates and honors the contributions of songwriters of all genres of music, educates the public with regard to their achievements and produces a spectrum of professional programs devoted to the development and nurturing of new songwriting talent through songwriting craft forums, scholarships, digital initiatives and Master Sessions on both coasts. Educational activities are held at The GRAMMY Museum, which hosts the permanent Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery, and at the University of Southern California/Thornton School of Music, with additional events and programs at NYC’s Stuyvesant High School, Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business and the University of North Carolina. Out of the tens of thousands of songwriters of our era, there are approximately 450 inductees who make up the impressive roster enshrined in the Hall of Fame. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first significant commercial release of a song. The list of inductees include Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier & Brian Holland, Smokey Robinson, Paul Williams, Hal David & Burt Bacharach, Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly, Bob Dylan, Isaac Hayes & David Porter, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Lionel Richie, Carole Bayer Sager, Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora, Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Don Schlitz, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Felice & Boudleaux Bryant, Loretta Lynn, Jimmy Webb, Van Morrison, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Diane Warren, Stevie Wonder, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Mac Davis, Leonard Cohen, Ray Davies, Merle Haggard, Cyndi Lauper, Desmond Child, Mick Jones & Lou Gramm, Elvis Costello, Marvin Gaye, Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards, Bill Withers, Jay Z, Tom Petty, Toby Keith, Max Martin, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Berry Gordy, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Robert Lamm & James Pankow, Bill Anderson, Steve Dorff, Jermaine Dupri, Alan Jackson, Kool & The Gang, John Mellencamp, Allee Willis, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Missy Elliott, John Prine, Dallas Austin, Tom T. Hall and Jack Tempchin, among many others.
Full biographies and a complete list of inductees are available on the Songwriters Hall of Fame website at https://www.songhall.org. Joining online is quick and easy: https://www.songhall.org/join.
