This memorial scholarship award is about growth, spirit, devotion and opportunity. Opportunity to expand the knowledge of the harpist's craft and to share that knowledge with others. Opportunities to make positive changes in the lives of others, whether they be an audience of one or of many. 

Scholarships are awarded in three categories:

  • Performance Training ($800 first place, $500 second place)

  • General Training ($500 first place, $300 second place)

  • Harp Confab attendee (full tuition including course registration and lunches)

These scholarships are offered to harpists, who live in the United States*, with their pursuit of achieving a more advanced level of accomplishment in the field of performance and service to others. The awarded harpists receive a check for the amount they have earned through their entry and selection by the committee.

*(The change requiring applying harpists to live in the USA was made by JPG’s Board of Directors on November 3, 2024.)

How to apply

Please complete the application which is located in our STORE. The fee to process the application is $10.00 for all applicants 18 years or older. When you click on our STORE, you push PURCHASE, you have the opportunity to see and complete the application before making the actual purchase of $10.00 with a credit card. (All fees for applying go into the foundation which provides scholarships, instruction (see Harp Confab button at the top, and performances given to local audiences free of charge.) In addition to the application found in our STORE, please know:

  • Prepare to play 2 minutes of 2 pieces of music of your choice. It is not necessary to play complicated music. Musicality, tone, rhythm are important areas of consideration.

  • Please complete the form and copy of your 2 pieces of music (highlighting the measures you will play) and email them to: Jeanne Eller at: jeanneellertn@gmail.com

  • All submissions must be received by November 30th each year.

  • We will then schedule you for a maximum 30 minute Zoom call in January for you to play your 2 short pieces of 2 minutes each, and as importantly, spend time discussing your harp journey. Both the playing and the discussion portion contribute 50% each to your total score. Our goal is to encourage harpists, not critically judge them.

  • Previous winners are not eligible the next year for the same scholarship.

  • Any omission of requirements will result in the rejection of the application.

  • Awards will be announced on January 31st each year, Jan’s birthday.

There are no refunds once you complete the application and pay the application fee. The application form has all required fields. You complete the application online before you are asked to submit the application fee of $10.00.  Remember to click on STORE at the top of this page to complete the application. 

2023-2024 JPG HARP SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

FIRST PLACE PERFORMANCE: Emily West, Boulder, CO

SECOND PLACE PERFORMANCE: Raquel Nisi, New York, New York

FIRST PLACE GENERAL TRAINING: Romana Buaicia, Jihomoravsky kraj, Czech Republic

SECOND PLACE GENERAL TRAINING: Lynn Lapidus, Chesterfield, VA

FIRST PLACE JPG HARP CONFAB WITH DEBORAH HENSON-CONANT: Elizabeth Owens, Richmond, VA

2022-2023 JPG HARP SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

FIRST PLACE PERFORMANCE: Renee Murphy, New York, New York

SECOND PLACE THERAPY: Catherine Wells, Owens Cross Roads, AL

2021-2022 JPG HARP SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

SECOND PLACE THERAPY: Kristina Scholz, Colfax, WA

2020-2021 JPG HARP SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

FIRST PLACE PERFORMANCE: Catherine Mullins

SECOND PLACE PERFORMANCE: Amelie Burkinshaw

FIRST PLACE THERAPY: Marilyn Bulger

SECOND PLACE THERAPY: Miranda Lee

2019-2020 JPG HARP SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

General Training

FIRST PLACE: Miranda Rinaldi, Kingwood, TX playing Two Guitars by Linda Wood and Solfeggietto, CPE Bach, transcribed for harp by Marie Miller

SECOND PLACE: Gisela Mejia-Holguin, Duluth, GA playing Minuet by Jean Jacques Rousseau and Tambourin, by Louis Claude Daquin.

2018- 2019 JPG HARP SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

GENERAL TRAINING:

FIRST PLACE: Renee Murphy, Bloomington, IN and Hannah Stater, Berea, OH

SECOND PLACE: Amelie Burkinshaw, Alberta, Canada and Bewthany Patton, Avon Park, FL

HARP THERAPY:

FIRST PLACE:Anita Cunningham, Stubenville, OH and Marilyn Bulger, Alberta Canada

SECOND PLACE: Jordon Turner, West Columbia, SC and Alaina Campbell, Cumming, GA

HARP CAMP: DEBORAH COUCH, GLENDALE, KY AND Linda Weaver, HARROGATE, TN

Double scholarships were awarded in 2018 because there were no applicants in 2017 so the JPG Board of Directors voted to increase the number of winners in 2018.

2016 - 2017 JPG HARP SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

GENERAL CATEGORY:  

FIRST PLACE:  LYDIA WISEHEART, SALISBURY, IN

SECOND PLACE:  DEBORAH COUCH, GLENDALE, KY AND AMELIE BURKINSHAW, BRULE,         ALBERTA, CANADA

HARP THERAPY CATEGORY:

FIRST PLACE:  MARILYN BULGER, HINTON, ALBERTA, CANADA

SECOND PLACE:  Matthew Tutsky, Boise ID

 

2015 - 2016 JPG Harp Scholarship Winners

The Board of Directors of the Jan Pennington Gray Harp Scholarship Fund, Inc. have selected the winners of the 2014 and 2015  Harp Scholarship competition. The five judges expressed their delight in the achievements of the applicants from the following states: VA, NH, OR, NY, GA, AL, TN, OH

  • General Education, 1st place: Olivia Johnson - Decatur, AL and Emily Cluff - Nauvoo, IL

  • General Education, 2nd place: Teresa Sheppard - Marietta, GA

  • General Education, 2nd place: Sara Brown - Dayton, TN

  • Harp Therapy (Practitioner, special category): Montiel Rosenthal - Cincinnati, OH

  • Harp Camp Scholarship: Savannah Landis - Manlius, NY

 

JPG Harp Medallion Award

This memorial award is given to harpists who demonstrate the qualities Jan fostered:

  • an interest in both harp activities and people

  • unselfish devotion to performance

  • a desire to ease the pain and suffering of fellow human beings

  • an interest in nature and all living things

  • to be the best they are capable of being.

This involves hard work, unselfishness, sensitivity, love and devotion. 

The JPG Harp Medallion Award is presented in the form of an engraved medallion accompanied by a certificate of award. Since 1999, there have been over 138 medallions awarded  to outstanding harpists who demonstrated a vital interest in harp activities.

This award is presented with the hope that it will promote and foster inspiring and dedicated harp performance. 

Recent Medallion Award Recipients

Rhett Barnwell

Vicki Collinsworth

Kim Robertson

Frank Voltz

Charles Nix

Angi Bemiss
Atlanta, GA

Beverly Inman-Ebel
Chattanooga, TN

Montiel Rosenthal
Cincinnaati, Ohio

Lorinda Jones
Rineyville, KY

Catherine Mullins
Savannah, GA

Jane Jolley 

Chattanooga, TN