SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
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The scholarship application deadline for Summer 2025 has passed.
We are no longer accepting applications.
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Results for scholarship applications for Summer 2025
were postmarked by May 12, 2025.
All applicants were notified of the results.
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For Scholarship Recipients:
Your Verification Form and thank you letter
must be postmarked by May 27, 2025
or you will lose your scholarship.
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If you have additional questions about your scholarship,
please first read the answers to ​Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
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Then contact us at arrowbearmusicassociates@gmail.com if needed.
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SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 2025
It’s so difficult to decide who should receive assistance. We agonize, argue passionately for students who touch our hearts in some way, and finally reach a consensus on who gets a scholarship, and who we are unable to help. We walk a delicate line trying to balance merit with need, those who have the advantage of lessons versus those who have potential but whose parents can’t afford private lessons. The effect of two years of Zoom classes is still impacting all genres of performing arts classes, but enrollment in performing arts classes is growing and music students are progressing. There is still work to be done to achieve the pre-pandemic levels of mastery and participation for many programs. Students are eager for the musical challenge and the camaraderie that a session at camp provides. Your generosity helps make their dream of attending a summer music camp session possible.
We are excited to announce that we awarded $124,653 in scholarships to 82 of the young musicians who applied for Summer 2025. Congratulations to them all!
Morey’s Music Store Scholarship
Angelo Atendido-Santos violin
Ttki Cantu-Wang violin
David L. Schechter Scholarship
Grace Maier alto sax
Emily Silvernail euphonium
Fran Moore Scholarship
Lily Laveglia viola
Robert Simmergren Scholarship
River Cortez violin
Edward Gietzen violin
Newton & Elsie Wrench Scholarship
David Gietzen trumpet
Robert Collins Choral Scholarship
Serenity Ng soprano
Arnold & Judy Hogarth Scholarship
D'aire Logan Butler viola
Josh Cantu-Wang violin
Nina Cantu-Wang viola
Jaden Martinez baritone sax
Connor Wheeler cello
Lucas Wheeler trumpet
Raye Fairchild Scholarship
Allison Feinberg violin
Walter & Natalie Norwick Scholarship
Zachary Gerhart cello
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Herb Guthmann Scholarship
Hannah Brown trombone
Vina Mae Sippel Woodland Scholarship
Miles Reusch violin
Loren & June Collins Scholarship
Leonardo Jimenez tenor sax
Arthur & Margery Schwartz Scholarship
Phoenix Soto violin
Sigma Alpha Iota Scholarship
Ava Je oboe
Carole Ohlendorf Dockstader Scholarship
Avrie Milford flute
Suzanne & Juliette Fluchere Scholarship
Niamh Adamis cello
Ryan Chung cello
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B.T. "Ted" Mills Scholarship
Brenden Watson alto sax
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Cliff Ervin Scholarship
Wesley Johnson trumpet
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John Ervin Scholarship
Kell Malmgren trombone
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Smith Family Scholarship
Arricka Rice string bass
Eric Villicana string bass
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Myrtle Seymour Watilo Scholarship
Emma Stelzried violin ​
Brian Reynolds Scholarship
Isaac Suárez string bass
Frances J Harding Choral Scholarship
Manfred Yim tenor
Russell Miller Scholarship
Hannah Pearce bassoon
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Memorial Scholarship
Taylor Herron clarinet
Matilda Martinez clarinet
Carol Lyn Jackson Scholarship
Bodhi Thein violin
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Choral Scholarships
Emily Salazar alto
Nolen Sudduth baritone/bass
Eileen Zhu soprano
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Middle School Scholarships
Zachary Arnold alto sax
Iyanu Asiwaju violin
Ethan Contreras alto sax
Andrew Gerhart violin
Morgan Heang violin
Jeremy Jakovcic cello
Luri Lee clarinet
Elin Lu cello
Renata Raya cello
Abel M Sandoval violin
Tamara Mitrani Shafran percussion
Annalysse Sullivan viola
Posey Ussery clarinet
​Alexander Wood clarinet
High School & College Scholarships
Joseph Baldridge violin
Angie Chung violin
Grace Chung violin
Vincent Felix clarinet
Jessa Fisher trumpet
Celine Hall cello
Eishin Hiraishi viola
Colin Hobson trumpet
Avi Kenyon tenor sax
Claire Lloyd alto sax
Asher Lowery clarinet
Kaydin Lowery trombone
Sophia Morales cello
Stephanie Perteet oboe
Leah Porter clarinet
Rogelio Raya violin
Boedy Reisner tuba
Isaiah Rodriguez trumpet
Mia Romero violin
Adel J Sandoval cello
Jesus Sandoval violin
Matisse Sayada violin
Mareen Shah percussion
Nathan Sharma cello
Mari Stanton violin
Shion Svenson French horn
Sheila Villalobos violin
Olivia Walsh violin
SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS
Arrowbear Music Associates grants scholarships to any accredited instrumental or choral music camp in the United States. We do not grant scholarships to camps outside the United States. Applications are available beginning February 1 and are due in late March. For Summer 2025, we granted $124,653 in scholarships to 82 recipients. Most scholarships awarded are for one-half to three-fourths of the cost of a session. There are a limited number of full scholarships available. We grant scholarships to both choral and instrumental applicants. Recipients are chosen based on both need and merit. Nearly all of our recipients would not have been able to attend a summer music camp without financial assistance. We notify all applicants by the middle of May. Contact our Scholarship Chairperson, Laura Kusaba, at arrowbearmusicassociates@gmail.com or call her at 562-634-5158, if you still have questions after reading the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below.
The process includes:
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a written application
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MP3 format files of a scale and solo with or without accompaniment for instrumental applicants OR
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MP3 format files of two vocal selections (one classical and one popular selection) with or without accompaniment for choral applicants. Do NOT use MP4 video format or send a DVD
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a letter written by the applicant explaining why he or she needs a scholarship
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a recommendation letter from a private or school music teacher
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MP3 format files of the scale and solo OR two vocal selections can be sent to us in one of three ways:
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The two files can be placed on a flash drive. The flash drive must be included with the application materials.
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The two files can be emailed to us.
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The two files can be placed in Dropbox and the link can be emailed to us.
All components must be completed as explained in the directions and
postmarked by the due date to be eligible for a scholarship.
Late applications are NOT accepted for any reason.
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***Please be sure of your summer plans before you apply for a scholarship. Once awarded, scholarships are NOT transferable to another session, music camp, or person. Scholarship recipients are expected to attend their entire session without arriving late or leaving early unless there is an emergency.
Questions? No problem. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions link.
SPONSOR A SCHOLARSHIP
We currently have twenty-six special scholarships sponsored by individuals and businesses. These special scholarships are awarded in the sponsor's own name, the name of a loved one, or in the name of their business or organization. We are willing to work with you to create a scholarship for a specific age group, instrument, or section such as winds, brass, strings, etc. We will discuss options with you on how to fund the scholarship. Special scholarships should provide at least half of the cost of a session.
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Please contact Laura Kusaba at 562-634-5158 or by email at arrowbearmusicassociates@gmail.com if you are interested.
Pre-Intermediate Recipients 2024
Intermediate II Recipients 2024
Intermediate 1 Recipients 2024
Jazz Recipients 2024
Choral Recipients 2024
Advanced Recipients 2024
THANK YOU LETTERS - 2024
Thank you so much for this scholarship. It not only will help me actually attend this music camp, but it has also saved my family financially. It’s hard to express the amount of gratitude I am having and wanting to give right now. Music has been my way to escape the real world, and now I can escape the real world for a week!!!! (Sorry if that was cheesy. I’m just really happy right now.) Once again, thank you in all different ways and languages for this scholarship.
Thank you so, so, so much for this chance! I love the choral camp so much and it truly means the world to me to have this opportunity!
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I cannot just explain how it helps financially, and it makes me so ecstatic to be able to go!!
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I would love to just hug you all. I’m crying tears of joy as I write this thank you!! I’ll write to you how it goes!
I play trombone and I’m going into 9th grade. I wanted to thank you for the gift you have given me. I love to play my trombone and I love to go to band camp. I’ve been the only trombone player through middle school, so it is nice to learn with others. I would not be able to attend if not for your help. Thank you so much. It really is the highlight of my summer.
Thank I want to wholeheartedly thank you for providing me with a scholarship to attend Arrowbear Music Camp. I am extremely excited to attend Arrowbear and play in a full symphony orchestra for the first time, and your scholarship makes it so much easier to do so. I want to tell you that the scholarship is a huge help to my family and me and we are incredibly grateful for it. I am deeply thankful for what you do.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for this scholarship. Your generous support means the world to me, and I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to make music with other young musicians who want to improve. Your belief in my potential inspires me to work even harder towards my goals. At my school, many students are in band for an “easy A”. Now, I can participate with other youth that really enjoy playing music. I can’t wait to play with other musicians who are more advanced than I am so I can learn and grow from them. I am counting the days until I can play fun and challenging music with others, make new friends, and try new things. Thank you so much!
I am beyond grateful for each of you and your generous scholarship donations. Without your financial help, my parents could not have afforded to send me to Arrowbear Music Camp this summer. I am so excited to have been given this opportunity. I have never attended any camp before and cannot wait to get there. My older sister was also awarded a scholarship and we are just so happy and excited and know that this experience will change our lives for the better. I hope that I will become a better violinist and make new friends during my amazing week at Arrowbear. Again, I cannot thank you enough for making my dreams of attending a music camp come true.
I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for selecting me as a recipient of your generous scholarship. Receiving this scholarship has filled me with immense joy and gratitude. I am incredibly thankful to you for recognizing my potential and deeming me worthy of such a wonderful opportunity.
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I promise to approach this opportunity with dedication, enthusiasm, and a genuine desire to learn and grow as a musician. Your support has not only lightened my financial burden but has also given me a renewed sense of purpose and motivation. Your belief in me has inspired me to work even harder and strive for excellence in my musical pursuits.
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Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am truly grateful for your generosity and belief in my potential.
Thank you so much for your amazing generosity and support. I am so excited and thankful that your contributions have given me the amazing opportunity to attend Arrowbear Music Camp this summer. I can’t wait to be part of this awesome program and spend my time making music and new friends.
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Music is everything to me, and I’m always working hard to get better at it. I just know that being at Arrowbear will help me grow so much as a musician. I’m really looking forward to learning from the amazing teachers, playing music with other kids who love it as much as I do, and making friendships that will last a long time.
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Once again, thank you for making this opportunity possible. I am so thankful for the positive impact you will have on my life and the lives of so many other young musicians.
THANK YOU LETTERS - 2023
Below are some of the thank you letters we received from our scholarship recipients. Their appreciation and excitement reveal the impact your generosity has on their lives and families. They are thrilled to attend a summer music camp and spend time with other young musicians who share their passion for music.
I just want to start this off by saying I am very happy to receive this scholarship. Living in a household where all of our money goes toward necessities, we don’t really go on vacations. Going to Arrowbear is an opportunity to do this. Also, I get to connect with others who share the same love of music. I went to Arrowbear last year and though at first it was scary, I ended up having the time of my life. I made many friends and I’m excited to reunite with them this coming summer. I am very grateful to receive this scholarship, and I will put it to great use.
I want to thank you, truly thank you, for awarding my son the scholarship this year so he can attend the Jazz Improv session at Camp Arrowbear this year. He loves music and is so passionate about music. It is his “reason” for going to school each day. As a mother that feels the financial burden of his passion but wants to be able to provide these types of experiences for him, I appreciate that you have helped so tremendously to alleviate this burden. This will pay for more than ¾ the cost of the camp! I am humbled by your generosity.
THANK YOU!!!!! I can’t stress enough how grateful I am for the opportunity to go to the music camp. I talk with my friends about hos fun this camp is going to be. I couldn’t have gone without the help of your kindness. Music has changed my life. I’ve gone from a person with a small friend group that I would talk to and now I have a massive social group of people that I consider my friends. So from the bottom of my heart thank you.
I went to Arrowbear last year, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that it was the best two weeks of my life. I am elated to be able to go back this year so that I can play music and make lifelong friends again. Without this scholarship, going to Arrowbear would have been much more difficult and maybe even impossible to be able to go to solely because of financial reasons. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for gifting a scholarship that lets me go to Arrowbear. Without this scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to experience camp. I am a twelve-year old girl. I am going into seventh grade. I have played violin for over nine years. My mom is a violinist, and my dad is a trombonist. I love animals, the beach, music, friends, and family. This is my first time going to camp, and this will be my brother’s fourth time. He talks about so many fun memories he made there, and I can’t wait to go! I am looking forward to going in the pool, climbing the big rocks of Happy Gap, and most of all, making music! I can’t wait to go to camp and make memories I’ll cherish forever.
Thank you so much for helping me get to go to the music camp. I love the music camp so much. I had so much fun last year. It was my first time ever going to camp. After a crazy winter where I had to stay home for weeks, thanking about camp gave me so much joy. I can’t wait to learn new things and play my trombone with everyone.
Thank you so much for your sponsorship and selecting me as a scholarship recipient! I am truly honored. Getting the scholarship means a lot to me because I was not sure if I would be able to attend this year due to the cost of the camp. However, your generosity and dedication to young musicians like me has helped me to get over that hurdle.
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I really enjoy playing the flute and that is one of the core reasons why I wake up every morning to go to school. Knowing that I will be able to attend music camp this year has further bolstered my willingness and eagerness to keep perfecting my skills as a flute player. I attended the music camp last year and I absolutely loved the experience, and I made new friends. It was truly magical for me. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity. It truly means the world to me!
Thank you so much for the opportunity you’ve given me. I really appreciate your generosity and I’m looking forward to the camp so much! I’ll be practicing hard to prepare, and I’m so excited to attend. Again, thank you so much.
Thank you so much for your generous donation to me. I am more than happy to accept to go to the Advanced Session at Arrowbear this summer. I can’t wait to go and make music with my peers while also learning to be a better musician myself. I can only imagine all of the new skills I will learn which will help me in my future in symphonic winds and marching band. I can’t thank you enough for this scholarship. Without this scholarship I wouldn’t have been able to experience this great opportunity. I know I will learn so much from this camp and I can only pray that I will be able to come back every year after this one.
Ever since I first caught wind of Camp Arrowbear it’s been my dream to get in. I’ve loved summer camp all my life and music is my greatest passion. If I could participate in a camp experience where those two are combined, it would be the most amazing opportunity. And now I can thanks to this scholarship! I can’t express how much I appreciate you choosing me to receive this money, and I can’t wait for camp! I’m going through a hard time but now I can smile because I know in a few weeks I’ll be at the camp of my dreams! Thank you so much.
I can't thank you enough for your financial assistance with the scholarship to help me get to Arrowbear. It is a truly magical place and getting the opportunity to attend again and make more memories is incredible. Thank you for investing in my growth as a singer and as a person. I am forever grateful for your support.
