Manhattan School of Music launches Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship
JOHANNESBURG – Manhattan School of Music commemorates the late Hugh Masekela's birthday by launching Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship.
The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) together with The ELMA Music Foundation and Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation launched the Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship on 4 April.
The launch of the Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholarship is in honour of the legendary South African musician who passed away after losing a battle against prostate cancer in 2018. The Stimela hit-maker would have turned 80 years old on 4 April.
The scholarship will allow six South African students to pursue Bachelor of Music degrees at Manhattan School of Music, one of the world’s leading music conservatories, and Masekela’s alma mater.
The scholarship, which will cover tuition and all living expenses for each of the six scholarship recipients for their full four years of study, will be announced at the Jazz Foundation’s annual gala in New York, which this year will honour Masekela’s life and legacy. Masekela, who died on 23 January 2018, studied classical trumpet at the MSM from 1960 to 1964.
“We are enormously grateful for this scholarship grant and deeply honoured to be working with The ELMA Music Foundation and the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation to provide an educational and musical home to six South African students whose presence at the school will stand testament to Hugh Masekela’s vision and talent,” said MSM president James Gandre.
“He is one of MSM’s most distinguished alumni, and this is an apt extension of both his musical legacy and the important work that he did during his lifetime on social initiatives benefiting South Africans. The Hugh Masekela Heritage Scholars will be warmly welcomed to a vibrant community of aspiring young musicians who come to the school from 45 countries around the world.”
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