Yá’át’ééh, shik’éí dóó shidiné’é!
Shí éí Renata Yazzie yinishyé. Tó’aheedlíinii nishłį́, Kinyaa’áanii bashishchíín. Bit’ahnii dashicheii, Honagháanii dashinálí. My name is Renata Yazzie, and I’m a Diné pianist and musicologist currently finishing my graduate studies in Music at the University of New Mexico. I’m happy you’re here and either interested in pursuing an education in music if you aren’t already, or supporting someone who is!
I envisioned this scholarship back in the Fall of 2017 when I really began to understand just how difficult it is for Indigenous students studying music to get scholarships. I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemistry in Summer of 2017 and managed to secure a fair amount of scholarship money to cover my schooling. I tried applying to the same places - tribal funding, Native-based scholarship programs, etc. - for more funding for graduate school, but no one would fund me. Other Native students in the music program also expressed the same frustrations. Today, I am thankful that the American Indian Musicians’ Scholarship has found a provisional home with The Heartbeat Music Project (HMP). HMP provides tuition-free music education for grades K-12 on the Navajo Nation.
It is my hope that this scholarship will grow and bloom over the years into something that sustains Indigenous musicians from all over North America. Please reach out if you have any questions regarding the application or otherwise - we are here for you!
Other resources we can help with include identifying Indigenous art+music works to program in your recitals, admissions assistance, application proofreading, audition tips, and more - navigating these spaces of Western art music can be difficult and frustrating. Consider reaching out if you need some encouragement or advice!
Adaa ‘ahólyą. Take care,
Renata