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Berklee College of Music is announcing the recipient of the inaugural Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole Scholarship: Paris Pineyro. The $75,000 scholarship — a joint presentation from the Natalie Cole Foundation and Nat King Cole Generation of Hope — was established to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Natalie Cole’s birth this year as well as celebrate the trailblazing and enduring legacies of pianist/singer Cole and his singer-songwriter daughter.
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In a joint statement given to Billboard, twin sisters Casey Cole and Timolin Cole-Augustus, said, “Our father and sister were known for their vocal abilities and emotional delivery, even with dad often insisting he was a pianist first and foremost. Their dedication to their vocal craft is one of the reasons we’re so happy that Paris is the inaugural recipient of the Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole Scholarship. Paris is a talented singer and an exemplary student, and we’re honored to connect our family’s legacy to a voice of the future through this scholarship with Berklee College of Music.”
Pineyro, a sophomore at Berklee who goes by the artist name Paris Dior, is studying music business/management and performance. In the Berklee press announcement, Pineyro commented, “It’s more than recognition — it reflects every late night, every struggle and every moment I pushed through my doubts. It reminds me that even when the path feels impossible, perseverance can lead to something truly ‘unforgettable,’ to quote the iconic Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole. I wish to express my sincere appreciation for being selected as the first recipient of this scholarship. It was an unexpected honor that fills me with deep gratitude. I am so grateful to the Natalie Cole Foundation and Nat King Cole Generation Hope for believing in my potential and investing in my journey.”
A jazz and pop vocalist as well as a pianist, Nat King Cole is known for standards such as “Mona Lisa,” “Nature Boy” and holiday classic “The Christmas Song.” Daughter Natalie won nine Grammys during her career — including best new artist. Her repertoire includes “This Will Be,” “I’ve Got Love on My Mind” and “Unforgettable,” a 1991 duet with her late father that reprised his own 1951 hit. Natalie was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 1995.
“It is an absolute privilege to be part of the first ever Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole Scholarship, honoring the legacy of two of the most inspirational artists of all time,” said Phil Lima, assistant chair of the Voice department at Berklee, in a statement provided to Billboard. “It is fitting for Paris to become the inaugural recipient of this award as she has already inspired so many of her instructors and peers in our community through her impressive abilities and instincts as a creator, and her generous and affirming nature as a collaborator and supporter. The scholarship opens more doors for Paris to advance her education and her career. We are excited for many more young Berklee musicians to have the same opportunity in the years to come.”
Find more information about Berklee scholarships here.
The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation announced on Thursday (Dec. 14) that Sebastián Yatra will sponsor the next four-year Prodigy Scholarship that will fully fund a student’s bachelor’s degree in music at Berklee School of Music starting in the fall 2024.
“Joining the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation for their annual Prodigy Scholarship is beautiful because I’m part of something that I would’ve wished for as a young kid. One of my big dreams was to study music at Berklee and although my career took a different path which I’m super grateful for, I would’ve loved to have that kind of preparation and knowledge,” said Sebastián Yatra in a statement. “I hope that the person who gets this opportunity takes full advantage of the scholarship and enjoys it to the max. I’ll be looking out for applicants that share a lot of heart and sincerity in their art.”
The foundation’s scholarship, created nine years ago, holds a maximum value of $200,000 in financial aid for music students in need. The scholarship is traditionally awarded to “exceptionally talented music students, with financial needs, to support their educational and musical aspirations,” according to the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.
The news of the scholarship follows the singer-songwriter’s stint as a host at the 24th Annual Latin Grammys, during which he performed and expressed his passion for the Foundation on-air, encouraging global support for Latin music education. The Colombian superstar initially partnered with the Foundation in 2019 for the Latin Grammy In The Schools program in Miami.
“Our scholarships provide more than just funds for college tuition,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, executive director of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation. “The ongoing support we receive from artists such as Sebastián Yatra and our generous sponsors allows us to take it a step further and create meaningful educational and mentoring opportunities for the next generation of Latin music creators.”
In addition, Gibson Gives, the charitable division of Gibson, will provide sponsorship for three Tuition Assistance Scholarships. Each scholarship could be worth up to $10,000 and is intended for students who aim to study music, with the electric or acoustic guitar as their main instrument. Applications for all 44 scholarships available in 2024 are now open and available to music students between the ages of 17 and 25.
For more details and/or to apply, visit www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org.
In previous years, the Prodigy Scholarship has been co-sponsored by Latin stars including Nicky Jam (2023), Sofia Carson (2022), Juanes (2021), Julio Iglesias (2020), Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2019), Carlos Vives (2018), Miguel Bosé (2017), Juan Luis Guerra (2016), and Enrique Iglesias (2015).
The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation awards the Nicky Jam Scholarship to 19-year-old Dominican Pianist Leomar Cordero. The award was granted during a special presentation with the reggaetón Puerto Rican hitmaker on Thursday (Aug. 24) in Miami, Florida.
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“When I received the news, I could not believe this was happening to me!,” Cordero tells Billboard Español. “I feel very fortunate to have been selected for the Nicky Jam Scholarship and very happy at the same time to see that all my hard work is yielding results.”
The four-year scholarship holds a maximum value of $200,000 and it will allow Cordero to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston starting this fall. Also known as the Prodigy Scholarship, the grant was created in 2014 to support music education in the field of Latin music.
“My goals are to take my music around the world — and I plan to maximize this scholarship, [which] is more than a scholarship, it is a wonderful opportunity to expand my horizons and grow each day as a musician and person,” adds Cordero.
“[Cordero] is a hell of a piano player. I think he’s a music phenomenon, and the humility that he has doesn’t go with the talent, or the super ego when he plays the piano,” Jam tells Billboard Español. “There’s nothing that feels better than helping out and doing your bit, and making a young person achieve their dreams. I was a dreamer too, so fulfilling a dreamer’s dream — for me, there’s nothing more rewarding than that.”
Back when the Nicky Jam Scholarship was announced in December, the Puerto Rican juggernaut told Billboard, “Maybe the next Nicky Jam, Bad Bunny or Beethoven comes out of this. You never know!” This scholarship follows the Latin hitmaker’s performance at the 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, alongside Foundation scholarship winners, where he pledged to support aspiring musicians.
The Latin Grammy winner is a pioneer in the música urbana landscape. He has been at the forefront of reggaetón since the early 2000s, helping the genre kick off to global acclaim. “It’s a blessing to be one of the guys that knocked on doors for [reggaetón] to exist, and to see where it’s at today,” the Puerto Rican hitmaker told Billboard Español in May. “I just feel like a proud dad — like if I had a little baby and I was trying to make my baby be somebody, and my baby finally is somebody.”
“Nicky is a special human being characterized by his humility and big heart. He is truly committed to sharing his passion for music and giving back to the next generation of Latin music makers on their journey to achieving their dreams,” Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, executive director of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, tells Billboard Español.
She continues, “Since our inception nearly 10 years ago, our mission has been to support and cultivate the next generation of Latin music creators. With the extraordinary generosity of successful artists such as Nicky Jam, we have the unique privilege of fostering the education of future generations of Latin music makers, paving the way for their dreams to flourish and carry forward the rich legacy of Latin music.”
The Cultural Foundation was established by the Latin Recording Academy nine years ago to continue enhancing international awareness and appreciation of Latin music and its significant contributions, as well as fostering the next Latin music star. Previous artists that have been a part of this scholarship include Sofia Carson (2022), Juanes (2021), Julio Iglesias (2020), Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2019), Carlos Vives (2018), Miguel Bosé (2017), Juan Luis Guerra (2016) and Enrique Iglesias (2015).
“We are excited to see artists from different genres give back, especially this year, with Nicky Jam being an urban artist,” Egusquiza mentions. Nicky Jam is the first música urbana artist to form part of the Foundation. “Our vision is to be a global champion of music education and empower communities through Latin music and culture. We provide educational opportunities through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage.”
To date, the Cultural Foundation has donated more than $9.3 million with the support of the Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other donors.
For more info, visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org.
Rick Ross is in a giving mood. The rapper partnered with Rolling Loud co-founder Tariq Cherif to donate $10,000 of scholarships to eight Miami students from his alma mater, Carol City Senior High School in Miami Gardens, Fla.
“You know, to come give back to the community right here, that means a lot,” Ross said during his visit to the school. Along with the scholarship, students were gifted tickets to Rolling Loud Miami in July. Ross and Cherif were joined by City of Miami Gardens Councilman Reggie Leon and school board member Dr. Steve Gallon II.
“I am nothing but blessed,” scholarship recipient De’Zyre Frederick told CBS Miami. “It’s good to see the alumni come back and give back to the students which is something that is so amazing.”
The scholarships were in honor of Ross’ Boss Up Day 2023 and awarded to students who displayed academic excellence. “It’s not a gift,” Cherif added. “They earned it.”
During the awards ceremony, Ross himself reached into his pocket and handed out hundred-dollar bills to a student with a whopping 4.6 GPA.
Recently, the rapper teased a collaboration with Meek Mill on Instagram, posting a picture of the two in the studio with the caption “Dreams & Nightmares.” Ross will also be joining Jadakiss, Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Cam’ron, Remy Ma, Fivio Foreign and others on the 2023 Legendz of the Streetz Reloaded Tour, kicking off in Philadelphia on April 14.
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