The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Grant

The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award offers a one-time, need-based grant of up to $10,000 for pre-collegiate musicians aged 8-18 participating in From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship. This award aims to support talented young musicians facing financial barriers in their pursuit of classical music education. Applicants must demonstrate strong musical ability and are required to fully engage in the fellowship program to receive the award.

The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is a one-time, non-renewable, need-based award of up to $10,000 given in conjunction with full participation in From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship.
Each year, From the Top chooses approximately 20 pre-collegiate musicians ages 8-18 to receive the Award. The Award is given to driven and committed pre-collegiate musicians with financial need to help offset the often prohibitively expensive costs of studying classical music at a high level.
An application for the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is also an application to From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship program. You do not need to complete two separate applications.
If you are selected as a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist, you must also participate fully in our Learning and Media Lab Fellowship program. The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award cannot be granted without full participation in our Fellowship program.

Eligibility

Classical instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers (ages 8–18) who are full-time elementary, middle, or high school students, and have not yet entered college.High school seniors graduating in 2026 must apply by November 15, 2025 in order to be considered. The Award can only be given to students who are still enrolled in high school or below.Applicants must have strong musical ability and a willingness to participate in our Learning and Media Lab Fellowship.Each Young Artist Award recipient will receive a grant of up to $10,000 which may be used for the following:Summer Music Festival AttendancePrivate music instruction, masterclasses and/or workshopsTuition for music school/extra-curricular music programInstrument/instrument accessoriesAir travel and lodging for summer music festivals, special workshops, consultation lessons, competitions, and college auditionsSheet music and scoresConcert attireItems that include a spending limitRecording equipment, music technology software and subscriptions

Ineligibility

Students graduating from high school in 2025 are no longer eligible to apply.The award cannot be used to pay for college tuition. The award also cannot be used for college textbooks, non-music-related pursuits and travels, or non-musical items—phones, earbuds, etc.