SBO essay contest 2015

Fifteen years ago SCHOOL BAND AND ORCHESTRAlaunched a scholarship essay program designed to further support music education in the nation’s schools. Our goal, which has been consistent throughout the program, is to encourage student participation, support music educators and inform the public of the benefits derived from learning to play music.

With limited resources and a handful of co-sponsors we have awarded 150, $1,000 scholarships to students and $1,000 in matching music products and services to the winning student’s school programs for a total of $300,000.  The Scholarship has been enthusiastically embraced by the music community and is of great benefit to music educators who face a daily challenge of limited funding and the dual problem of recruitment and retention of their student population.   The Essay Contest, through its targeted topics, stresses the benefits of a music education.  This year’s theme was “How Does Your Music Class Prepare You For Life”. Each year several thousand students compete for the scholarships, and in many schools it is a joint project between the music and English departments.

We are now seeking a very select group of companies to join with us as we expand the Scholarship Fund to further support music education in our schools.  Your participation is needed.  Please join our co-sponsors; NAMM, Alfred Music Publishing,Sabian Ltd., Woodwind & Brasswind and Yamaha Corporation of America as we encourage more student involvement and music educator recognition. Let’s keep music in our schools!

What Is The SBO Essay Scholarship Fund And How Does It Work?

The Essay Contest is conducted from September through December with entry forms in SBO magazine and on our web site www.sboplus.net  Students may also enter through mail and fax. Each year there is a new topic. The entries are initially judged by our editorial team (supervised by SBOPublisher Emeritus Sid Davis, optional) and finalists are submitted to a panel of industry judges. The winning student entries are validated by their music directors and the scholarship checks are presented by a music dealer to the student and their educator, usually at a spring concert or assembly setting for maximum community awareness.

How Is It Promoted and How Can My Company Participate?

Prior to the contest a large four color poster is inserted into an issue of SBO with the contest theme and further details including the list of past winners and their schools; names and companies of the judges and logos of the co-sponsors.  In addition the information, along with the co-sponsor logos are displayed on the www.sboplus.net web site.   The awareness campaign continues throughout the campaign with full page advertisements, email blasts and editorials, all promoting both the essay contest and our co-sponsors.

We offer an exclusive opportunity for your company.  Co-sponsors are limited to a single product or service organization. Sponsor logos on all our scholarship promotional materials and advertisements serve as a constant reminder to the nation’s music directors that you are supporting their efforts. In addition, we will list you (or a designated company representative) as a contest judge. You will have the opportunity to review the selected entries and help make the final determination.  Your company will also have the opportunity to participate in the scholarship presentations.  Currently the following exclusive sponsorship categories are still available:

The 16^th Annual SBO Essay Scholarship Contest is now underway.We ask that you give serious consideration to the fact that you will not only be sponsoring an established, highly prestigious and nationally recognized young musician scholarship competition, but even more importantly,your sponsorship will supporta valued, (and much needed) scholarship award program thatis driven cooperatively at the educator/retailer/community level.The SBO Essay Scholarship Contestnot only serves to annually recognize(and reward) a select group of exceptional young musicians, it also provides young musicians everywhere with an incentive to continue their musicefforts in hopes of winningtheSBO Scholarship Essay contest next year.

Levels of Participation…

Platinum – Premium Positioning of logo on all collateral associated with the event which includes 5 FP print ads in SBO, on the Contest Poster, on all emailing associated with the application process. First referenced in all editorial associated with the Essay Contest concerning sponsors: $20,000

Gold– Secondary positioning of logo on all collateral associated with the event (5 FP print ads in SBO, on the Contest Poster, on all emailing associated with the application process). First referenced in all editorial associated with the Essay Contest concerning sponsors: $5,000

Silver– Third tier positioning of logo on all collateral associated with the event (5 FP print ads in SBO, on the Contest Poster, on all emailing associated with the application process). First referenced in all editorial associated with the Essay Contest concerning sponsors: $4,000

But can you really put a price on good will?

There is still time to get involved and show your support, contact your SBO Sales Representative below to reserve your sponsorship now: