August 19, 2011
Press Release
NEW YORK, August 19, 2011 – The winners of the BMI Foundation’s 14th Annual John Lennon Scholarships, a program that recognizes the best and brightest young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24, were announced today by Samantha Cox, Director of the competition. Lynda DeFuria, a Las Vegas native and recent Berklee College of Music graduate, won first place and a $10,000 scholarship for her song, “Where You Stand.”
Jennifer Starsinic was awarded the $5,000 second-place award for her song “It Fell,” while Maya de Vitry received the third-place $5,000 award for her song “Sparrow.” Both are currently studying at the Berklee College of Music.
The 2011 judges included Universal Music Publishing Group Sr. VP Jennifer Blakeman; EMI Music Publishing VP, Creative Jake Ottmann; Sony ATV Music Publishing VP Josh Sarubin; Downtown Music Publishing President Justin Kalifowitz; and Warner Chappell Music Publishing VP Lee Dannay.
Thousands of students representing schools from every state participated.
Established by Yoko Ono in 1997 in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, the John Lennon Scholarships have been made possible through generous donations from Ono with matching funds from Gibson Musical Instruments. More than $300,000 has been awarded over the last 13 years to students from select colleges, universities and music schools, and from national submissions from the National Association of Music Education/MENC chapters.
The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985 to support the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation come primarily from songwriters, composers and publishers, BMI employees and members of the public with a special interest in music.
Contact:
Jamil Walker; BMI
212-220-3143;
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