The Michael Kamen Solo Award

The Michael Kamen Solo Award is a grant program administered by Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (MHOF), a national 501(c)(3) organization founded by composer Michael Kamen in 1996. The foundation keeps music alive in schools by donating musical instruments to underfunded music programs serving low-income students nationwide. To date, MHOF has provided instruments to over 500,000 economically disadvantaged students. The Michael Kamen Grant is the foundation's sole program addressing instrumental music program needs at underfunded schools.

How the Michael Kamen Solo Award Works

The program operates as a school-based grant rather than an individual scholarship. Schools apply on behalf of their music programs, and the foundation provides instruments directly to qualifying schools.

Eligibility Requirements

Schools must serve populations with a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals (typically Title I schools). The music program must demonstrate need, meaning existing instruments are insufficient, damaged, or nonexistent. Schools must have a dedicated music teacher and an established music curriculum. Grants are available nationwide.

Application Process

Schools submit an application through the MHOF website. The process includes a grant application review and school vetting conducted by the foundation's Program Director and Program Associate. Awarded schools receive a grant agreement, instrument receipts, and evaluation reports. The foundation purchases instruments directly from music products vendors and ships them to the school.

Adopt A School Campaign

In addition to the Michael Kamen Grant, MHOF runs the Adopt A School campaign, which connects qualifying schools in need of musical instruments with donors who want to support music education in a community of their choice. This campaign, promoted in partnership with musician Wolfgang Van Halen, allows individuals and organizations to fund instruments for specific schools.

Music Rising

MHOF also administers Music Rising, a program that replaces instruments lost or destroyed in natural disasters. This program has helped schools and musicians rebuild after hurricanes, floods, and other catastrophic events.

MEDSS Program

Music (and Arts) Education District Support Services (MEDSS) is a comprehensive arts education assessment and consulting service that identifies challenges and barriers creating inequities for student access to music and arts programming across entire school districts.

Real-World Example

A Title I middle school in Los Angeles with a band program but only 15 working instruments for 60 interested students could apply for a Michael Kamen Grant through MHOF. After the application review and school vetting process, the foundation could award the school $35,000 worth of new musical instruments. This happened at Florence Nightingale Middle School in Los Angeles, where students gathered for a surprise celebration that culminated in the unveiling of $35,000 worth of new instruments for their music program.

A rural school district in Florida could apply and receive enough instruments so that, as one teacher put it, students do not have to consider finances when participating in band. Rachel Thompson, Band Director at Discovery Intermediate in Kissimmee, Florida, reported that without MHOF support, many of her students would have been unable to afford instrument rental fees.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are an individual student looking for a scholarship to pay for college tuition, the Michael Kamen Solo Award is not the right program. It is a school-based instrument grant, not an individual scholarship.

However, this program matters to you if you teach at or attend an underfunded school. Music programs in low-income communities are frequently the first to be cut when budgets tighten. MHOF fills that gap by providing instruments that students cannot afford to rent or buy. Without instruments, students cannot participate in music at all. With instruments, they gain access to the many benefits of music education including improved academic performance, higher self-esteem, and creative expression.

If you are a music teacher at a qualifying school, apply through the MHOF website. If you are a donor or musician looking to support music education, consider the Adopt A School campaign.

For more information, contact support@mhopus.org or call 818-762-4328.

Related Opportunities

• ASCAP Foundation Scholarships for individual composers and songwriters
• MTNA Scholarships for individual student competitions
• VH1 Save the Music Foundation for school music program grants
• Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
• Visit Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation for grant applications and eligibility details