Uriel Vega taught himself to play the saxophone, but with the help of a Santa Barbara Foundation Music Scholarship, the young musician was able to take private lessons for the first time. After a year of instruction, his music teacher is enthusiastic about Uriel’s grasp of musical concepts and natural affinity for performance.

Uriel was among 49 Santa Barbara County students who have been awarded music scholarships from the Santa Barbara Foundation. These young people play everything from violins to trumpets to pianos, and when they sing, people listen.

The Foundation provides awards to students who demonstrate unusual musical potential and talent, and who have financial need. For many families, the scholarships make a tremendous impact in helping young people from grade school to graduate school to pay for music lessons and college tuition. The cost for music lessons can be as high as $500 a month, and the tuition and fees at finer universities and music conservatories approach $40,000 a year.

While Santa Barbara County has many talented young musicians, the Foundation’s ability to support all of them is limited. If you would like to donate to the Music Scholarship Program, please contact Tanya Gonzales, Vice President of Development, at (805) 963-1873, ext. 117 or tgonzales@sbfoundation.org.