The members of the Board of Directors feel strongly that one way to do this is to support students of traditional jazz at the college level. Accordingly, one activitiy of the QCJF has been the establishment of a scholarship for this purpose. The scholarship is presented to a college student who demonstrates ability in the area of Traditional Jazz Performance, and who demonstrates need for monetary assistance. Applicants to date have been students from regional colleges and universities who have been interested in being involved in the University of Colorado at Denver traditional jazz program. Participants in the band are instrumentalists and vocalists who have demonstrated a proficiency in their area of musical study and on their particular instrument, and who can contribute to and benefit from the ensemble performance opportunities this band experience offers.
Leadership is a main criterion for the scholarship.
The recipients of the QCJ Foundation scholarship have been the leaders chosen by fellow students. The student who is awarded the scholarship is expected to participate for the full year in the traditional jazz program at UCD, as a member of the band. The scholarship recipient is expected to appear at the QCJF annual concert to be recognized from the stage. Scholarship winner Matt Zlaten holds forth on saxophone, while Queen City Jazz Band leader and tuba player, Bill Clark, and banjoist Jim Tracy listen admiringly. Recipients of the Foundation scholarship in the 1999-2000 school year were J.T. Nolan and Matt Zlaten.