“The speed and accessibility of information has blurred the line between those who seek to innovate and those who simply co-opt, resulting in difficulty distinguishing original ideas from a multitude of facsimilies.

Careful observation of the past fifty years or so of musical study has identified two alarming trends — a rigid separation of performers from composers, composers from performers (and audiences from both!) and an inflexible specialization by young musicians, training to gain a professional foothold in a rapidly changing musical world.

Musical societies in the coming decades will require musicians to be increasingly flexible, original, and to have an ever broadening set of skills. We believe that rather than simply fostering a steady accumulation of inert, skill-based knowledge, each and every musician should be focusing on developing a wide-ranging and original musical voice in order to become the type of artist who will thrive in the emerging world. Music education has to not only keep pace with change, it must foster change as well.

As traditional ways and places to make music evolve, musicians will be required to be increasingly original and entrepreneurial. Total musical immersion at the Center for Advanced Musical Studies will illuminate paths that develop individual musical invention in parallel with musical discipline.”

~Edward Carroll, Director

The Center for Advanced Musical Studies is delighted to announce the Thomas Stevens Memorial Scholarship for young trumpeters who embody the musicality, educational drive and compassion of the brilliant trumpeter, composer, pedagogue, and friend Thomas Stevens (1938-2018). This scholarship was made possible by a generous gift from Los Angeles-based trumpeter Malcolm McNab/Camp McNab. Tom loved Chosen Vale, and his musicianship, generosity and creative spirit have deeply influenced the many participants and faculty members who spent extraordinary time with him over 12 seasons with us in Enfield. His work will live on through these scholarships for young trumpeters, the videos he created at Chosen Vale, his many recordings and compositions, and in the hearts and minds of his Chosen Vale family, colleagues and friends. We thank Mr. McNab and Camp McNab for their partnership, without whom this scholarship would not be possible.

The Center for Advanced Musical Studies is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to the advancement of our art. Your contribution to the Thomas Stevens Memorial Scholarship Fund may be tax deductible and can be made by clicking the DONATE button and following the prompts.