Stax Music Academy and Gibson Gives Announce Recipients For 2023-2024 SMA Afterschool Program

Stax Music Academy and Gibson Gives have announced the student scholarship recipients for the new SMA Afterschool Program for 2023-24.

The incredibly talented student recipients of the Gibson Gives Scholarship for the SMA Afterschool Program at Stax Music Academy include: Isaiah Blair, Zariya Scullark, Shaun Murray, and Jack Ward.  Available to all middle and high school students with an interest in music, the Stax Music Academy (SMA) Afterschool Program is energetic, challenging, and designed to help students earn music scholarships to college and result in civic-minded, socially conscious, successful adults. In addition to participating in the SMA music program, these gifted guitarists will be honored at a special reception on September 14^th at Stax Music Academy in Memphis, TN.

Meet the exceptional Gibson Gives Scholarship recipients, each showcasing remarkable talents and accomplishments. Jack Ward, a sophomore at East High School, stands out as a guitarist extraordinaire, contributing his skills to both the Jazz and Rhythm Section Ensembles at Stax Music Academy (SMA). He even made history this summer by being part of SMA’s opening band for KIDZ BOP. Zariya Scullark, a freshman at Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, impresses as a gifted guitarist at SMA, having played at Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City Festival in NYC and opening for KIDZ BOP. Shaun Murray, a junior from Faith Heritage Christian Academy, shines as a bass guitarist in SMA’s Rhythm Section Ensemble. Beyond music, Shaun actively engages in Student Council, Bridge Builders, and videography. Lastly, senior Isaiah Blair from Southwind High School, a bass guitarist at SMA’s Rhythm Section Ensemble, showcased his prowess alongside Stax legend Booker T. Jones in NYC and earned a Berklee College of Music scholarship. These students not only excel at SMA but also contribute to their school bands and other endeavors, embodying a true dedication to their craft and community.

A massively successful music institute located at the original site of Stax Records in Memphis, TN the Stax Music Academy provides training, classes, rehearsals, ensembles, and more in vocals, instrumentals, music theory, production and audio engineering, songwriting, as well as music business, videography, choreography, and more. The school pairs its music education with equal parts mentoring, offering social and emotional growth learning, professional mental wellness counseling, and college preparedness training.

Gibson supports the global music community through its philanthropic arm, Gibson Gives. The mission of Gibson Gives-a 501©(3)-is to support non-profit organizations worldwide in their efforts to advance musicians, youth-focused education, music, and health and wellness initiatives. 100% of donations to Gibson Gives go towards giving the gift of music. In the last four years, Gibson Giveshas raised over $4.5 million dollars and enabled $46 million in funding for key organizations. Through product donations and meaningful giving, Gibson continues to shape the sounds of generations of musicians across the globe.

For this new partnership, Gibson Gives is now providing assistance to all students in need of tuition in the SMA Afterschool Program via the Skip Pitts and Albert King Gap Funds. Albert King was an American guitarist and singer signed to Stax Records, who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues singers of all time. He is perhaps best known for his popular and influential song “Born Under a Bad Sign” (1967). Skip Pitts was the longtime guitarist for Isaac Hayes’ who played the famous wah-wah riff on the Academy Award-winning song “Theme from Shaft.”