The Frank Rosolino Memorial Fund, Inc.


The Frank Rosolino Memorial Fund was established March 1994 by Conrad Herwig, New York free-lance trombonist and Eugene E. Grissom, Professor Emeritus, University of Florida, to provide additional support for the Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship for jazz trombone This scholarship for jazz trombone was established in 1979 following the tragic death of Frank Rosolino in November of 1978 and is co-sponsored by the International Trombone Association and Professor Grissom. It has been awarded annually at the International Trombone Workshop and previously been limited to providing tuition and room. However, at the 1993 workshop in Cleveland, the ITA established an endowment for the scholarship with the earned interest to guarantee a student's tuition, room, and board. In addition to the financial
commitment for supporting the scholarship winner there has been a renewed interest among the membership to see that a greater number of qualified students are given the opportunity to attend the workshop. The establishment of this new Rosolino fund promises to provide a mechanism which in addition to travel assistance for the scholarship winner, depending upon the growth of the fund, could provide similar support to additional students. We are continuing to examine the possibility of aiding regional and other trombone workshops in a like manner.

Surveys conducted with former scholarship winners, many musician friends, and supporters of Rosolino history have suggested that in order to maintain the current status of the fund, provide for its growth, and further its main purpose in assisting the needs of future trombonists, that a solicitation for funds be established as an annual event and that it be presented as a kind of personal support group. The following contribution categories have been suggested for your consideration :

* the first recipient of the fund (in the form of travel assistance) was Elliot Mason the 1994 winner of the Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship for jazz trombone. Mr. Mason is from England, has completed his first year scholarship program at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and is currently free lancing in New York City.

* this years' Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship winner and Rosolino Memorial Fund recipient, is Antti Rissanen, Finland