Children Are Our Future

When researchers analyzed the NELS:88* database of the U.S. Department of Education, which tracked 25,000 students over a ten-year period, they discovered that students who were involved in music scored higher on standardized tests and reading tests than students not taking music courses. This finding was consistent for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
                                           -- Dr. James Catterall, UCLA, 1997.                                         *National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988

GLB Music Scholars

Jennifer Lindsay, Lyric Soprano, Violinist, Composer, Software Engineer
First Place 1998 GLB Scholarship Competition

"I am so grateful for the love, dedication, and tremendous support the Georgia Laster NANM Organization gave me throughout my teenage, college, and graduate school years.  You not only provided scholarship funds which helped me in college, but you continued to mentor and encourage me and provide me with opportunities to perform for the community, as well as represent the Georgia Laster Branch in three national competitions where I won First and Third Place Honors in Violin and Voice. I truly feel like a member of the Georgia Laster Family.  Thank you for your continuous support and guidance, which you give to me and all young musicians, in helping us pursue our goals.

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GLB Scholarship Participants
Additional Music Student Profiles 

Victor Ekpo, Classical Violinist, is a junior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA.  He plays both in the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, (ICYOLA), and his high school orchestra.  Victor has performed for the NANM Western Region Conference and has competed in the Jester Hairston Scholarship competition.  His repertoire also includes him performing with such famous musicians as Yo-Yo Ma, The Black Eyed Peas, and performers from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.  Victor plans to attend college at either the Julliard School of Music or the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.  Victor was our Honorable Mention Winner in the Georgia Laster May 2011 Scholarship Competition.

Sarah Johnson, Jazz Flutist 

NANM Georgia Laster provided me with scholarship funds to aid my musical studies.  At the age of 22, I have earned a BA in Music Business and Management and a Masters Degree in Flute Performance.  More importantly, NANM, Georgia Laster Organization has created a safe and supportive community for many young musicians and continues to do so.
                                                                                                                             Sarah Johnson

Sarah graduated from the Berklee College of Music in May, 2010, with a Bachelors Degree in Music Business and Management, where she received a full four-year scholarship.  In 2010, Sarah was awarded the Howard Scholarship at Berklee. 

Keeland Bowers, 2012 First Place Winner

Georgia Laster, NANM has helped me largely in the ways of preparing myself for my future years of college.   Georgia Laster, NANM has helped me build a college fund, prepare myself for future competitions and learn how to handle myself respectively in front of an audience. 
Thank You for your amazing support.                                    
                                                                           Keeland Bowers).

Nailah Conner, Cellist

The Georgia Laster Branch of NANM has helped me in so many ways. Not only did they provide a platform for me to perform, but the funds that I won from competitions greatly helped me to attend different music programs including the Meadowmount School of Music in New York. Furthermore, NANM provided an environment in which I could see and learn from other talented and dedicated performers- each time inspiring me and pushing me even more to be better the following year.                      Nailah Conner 

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