Gibson Gives Scholarships

Gibson Gives is dedicated to promoting music education, not only through our guitar donation initiatives but also by extending scholarships to various music education institutions and programs. In the year 2023 alone, we have granted 19 scholarships. Since the inception of our scholarship program in 2022, Gibson Gives has contributed over $200,000 in tuition support and provided guitars to recipients of these scholarships.

Arkansas - June 2024 - Gibson Gives established the third annual Sister Rosetta Tharpe Scholarship, awarded to Luis Melchor, a student at the Arkansas Arts Academy in Rogers, Arkansas.

This scholarship honors Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s home state and supports students pursuing higher education in a music-related field (education, performance, business, wellness, etc.). The scholarship includes $5000 and an SG Electric Guitar

Gibson Gives and 1500 Sound Academy scholarship(s)

Partner for Music Scholarships Across Los Angeles, Beijing, and Taiwan

Gibson Gives is proud to partner with 1500 Sound Academy this year to give five music scholarships valued at $25,000 in addition to instruments and gear totaling over $12,500 across the program in Los Angeles, California, Beijing, China and Taipei, Taiwan.

A trailblazing music education institution that strives to produce passionate sound creators through mentorship, positive mindset, and professional development, 1500 Sound Academy was created to help enrich the next generation of music creatives. 1500 Sound Academy’s founders consist of the legendary musical ensemble, 1500 or Nothin,’ aka James Fauntleroy and Larrance “Rance” Dopson, and renowned entrepreneur, executive, and philanthropist, Twila True. Both are GRAMMY Award-winning industry leaders who have collaborated with many high-profile artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Nipsey Hussle, and Justin Timberlake. In 2021, Fauntleroy, Dopson, and True launched the educational program in Los Angeles that teaches local residents the fundamentals of music and the industry. 1500 Sound Academy provides annual scholarships to attendees and offers instructional courses at affordable rates in comparison to other programs in the city. For more information on 1500 Sound Academy, visit: https://www.1500soundacademy.com/.

Gibson Gives and Belmont university school of music

Partner for Music Scholarships

Gibson Gives is awarding a $5,000 academic scholarship to an incoming Belmont Showcase Council member pursuing a career in the live music industry. This scholarship will go towards the student’s education costs at Belmont University.

Belmont University’s School of Music‘s vision is to be a premier comprehensive school of music, nationally recognized for distinctive programs that are committed to high standards of artistic scholarship and performance while championing innovation and stylistic diversity. This aligns perfectly with the Gibson Gives Music Education Programs Support.

Gibson Gives and 2nd Line Arts Collective

Partner for Music Scholarships in support of the Sanaa Workshop

Gibson Gives is proud to announce it will partner with the band, Better Than Ezra, in support of  the Second Line Arts Collective with a $20,500 matching scholarship ensuring that our funds serve not only to sustain operational needs but also to facilitate free attendance for students.

​The Sanaa Music Workshop, Second Line Arts Collective's flagship program, empowers students with the knowledge and experience necessary to navigate the complexities of the contemporary creative landscape. Conventional music education programs tend to overlook the critical aspects of the music business, focusing only on musicianship and technique. In contrast, the Sanaa Music Workshop emphasizes career longevity and prepares budding artists with the industry know-how and business acumen required to thrive in the arts. We instruct our students on essential topics such as personal finance, creative marketing, tax law, contract negotiation, return on investment, and more. Graduates of the Sanaa Music Workshop confidently pursue lives reflective of the American dream, transcending the "starving artist" stereotype.

Gibson Gives Lou Pallo Rockit academy scholarship

Lou Pallo, the enduring guitarist who served as the anchor for the Les Paul Trio over the course of several decades, earning the accolade of "the man of a million chords" from Keith Richards. Lou dedicated numerous years to imparting musical knowledge to young minds at the Rockit Academy. In tribute to his significant contributions to music, the guitar, and the Gibson legacy, we proudly establish this annual scholarship in his honor.

The Rockit Academy is New Jersey’s #1 Live Music Education school for young musicians. The Rockit Live Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help develop, nurture, and inspire young musicians to reach their full artistic potential through music education offered at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ.

Gibson Gives Stax academy scholarship(s)

The Stax Music Academy stands as a leading afterschool and summer music institute, seamlessly blending industry-focused music education with innovative youth development programs. Through the Skip Pitts and Albert King Gap Funds, we extend yearly assistance to guitar players, ensuring that students facing financial constraints receive support for tuition within the SMA program.

Gibson Gives sister rosetta tharpe arkansas arts academy scholarship

Arkansas Arts Academy, a K-12, lottery-based, open-enrollment public charter school, is dedicated to artistic excellence by seamlessly integrating exceptional Visual and Performing Arts Pathways with high academic standards across all core content areas. Each year, Gibson Gives and the Academy will award a music scholarship to a deserving high school senior as they embark on their post-graduate education and future careers in the music industry. This scholarship includes cash grants and essential instruments and gear. Each recipient is presented with either an acoustic or electric guitar, along with a $5,000 cash grant to support their educational pursuits.

Gibson Gives John “arch” ellsworth endowed Berklee college of music scholarship fund

Gibson Gives has joined forces with Berklee College of Music to contribute to the funding of the John “Arch” Ellsworth Endowed Scholarship. Berklee stands as the world's foremost college for the study of music, offering students a comprehensive experience in all facets of the music industry through an interdisciplinary curriculum. John “Arch” Ellsworth, a former guitar student at Berklee during the 1970s (then known as The Boston Conservatory of Music), went on to establish a significant career as both a player and educator. This scholarship serves as a lasting memorial to his enduring passion for music and his connection to Berklee.

Gibson Gives Spirit of Atlanta Music Education Fund

Gibson Gives has collaborated with the Spirit of Atlanta, a prominent independent music education and arts non-profit in Georgia, to offer tuition assistance scholarships. The mission of Spirit of Atlanta Incorporated is to empower youth by providing opportunities to cultivate and polish artistic, athletic, performance, and personal skills. This is achieved through positive, high-quality, and challenging arts education programs that focus on character building, a strong work ethic, teamwork, and the pursuit of performance excellence. The organization's core values encompass Respect, Excellence, Inclusion, Safety, Education, Accountability, and Integrity.

Gibson Gives - Save The Music Scholarships

The Gibson Gives Scholarship, in collaboration with the Save The Music Foundation, has selected nine young students for the year 2023. The objective of the Gibson Gives and Save The Music Scholarship is to promote inclusive opportunities, supporting aspiring musicians and prospective music students across the nation in cultivating careers within the music industry. The chosen recipients of the scholarship form a highly diverse group hailing from various regions across the United States.

Gibson Gives - Latin grammy cultural foundation Scholarships

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded by The Latin Recording Academy® in 2014. In collaboration with Gibson Gives, they are awarding three substantial scholarships for their scholarship program. The foundation's mission is to enhance global awareness and appreciation for the profound contributions of Latin music and its creators to the world's culture. This is achieved through college scholarships, grants, and educational programs. Gibson Gives takes pride in supporting these scholarships to ensure the continuity of educational programs aligned with the foundation's mission.