Strings Scholarship Competition

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The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. invites you to apply for the 2027 Scholarship Competition for Strings. Contestants will first compete on the local then the regional level. Based on these competitions, each region will send its winning contestant to compete at the national level of the competition to be held during the 2027 National Convention in Birmingham, Alabama. The required repertoire embraces the works of European and American composers while highlighting the contributions of Black composers.

Applications, along with the $50 application fee and a copy of photo identification, are due by 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) on January 31, 2027.

Consult the NANM Website for more information: nanm.org.








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Testimonials

October 24, 2026
Good morning, Julius, GOD got me up early this morning to show me the meaning of my journey as a musician! I started writing music 6 years ago. And on this journey I have never inspired to be a singer or writer nowhere near as great as the outstanding soulful ladies I grew up listening to. Ladies like Queen Aretha, Patti, Gladys, Dionne and Whitney just to name a few! I kept writing and everytime I went on The Ed Joyner Show or any other venue to share my talent it motivated me to do more. Negativity was hurled my way at times but because there was so much positivity it took away the sting of negativity and I kept on going. Well, God lead me to TAMNANM.ORG this morning to not only reread about the organization but to spiritually give me his message, and it was this! When I saw my name as a proud member an overwhelming surge of pride swelled up in my spirit and GOD said this is why I started you writing music, this is why you didn't give up, this is why I held your hand through it all...for the PRIDE that you feel in this moment.🙏 The emotions took me over and I began thanking and praising him! I am so grateful that he used you to show me what it was all about and I am so thankful you extended your hand of friendship Mr. Julius! May GOD continue to use you to inspire and encourage others that could be on this same road! You have no idea how it felt when he confirmed in my heart that this(a proud member of NANM) is what I always wanted for you.🥲 God Bless!🥰
Vanessa Blackwell

October 24, 2026Good morning, my dear friend, What a beautiful and deeply moving testimony! Your words have truly touched my heart, and I thank God for allowing me to be even a small part of your musical and spiritual journey. I have always believed that God places within each of us a gift, not merely for our own fulfillment, but to bless, encourage, and inspire others. Your journey is living proof that when God plants a seed of purpose within us, no amount of negativity, discouragement, or uncertainty can prevent it from blossoming if we remain faithful. You may not have aspired to become another Aretha, Patti, Gladys, Dionne, or Whitney, but God never intended for you to become any of them. He created you to be uniquely YOU, with your own voice, your own message, and your own musical testimony. That is the beauty of His divine plan. Your discovery of the National Association of Negro Musicians and the pride you experienced in seeing your name among its membership is especially meaningful to me. For more than a century, NANM has stood as a testament to the dignity, excellence, perseverance, and extraordinary contributions of Black musicians. You are now a part of that continuing legacy, and you belong! As a musician, educator, and servant of this great organization, I have come to understand that leadership is not simply about holding a position. It is about opening doors, recognizing the gifts in others, and helping them discover the greatness God has already placed within them. If God has used me in some small way to help you recognize your purpose, then I am humbled, grateful, and reassured that my own journey has not been in vain. Never stop writing. Never stop believing. Never stop allowing God to use your music as an instrument of inspiration and love. Thank you for sharing this precious moment of spiritual revelation with me. You have encouraged me today just as much as you say I have encouraged you. Remember, the greatest reward of a life of service is not the applause we receive, but the lives we touch along the way. May God continue to order your steps, enlarge your musical territory, and bless everything your hands and heart are inspired to create. With heartfelt appreciation, friendship, and God's richest blessings, Julius E. McCullough President, Tidewater Area Musicians, Inc. Eastern Region Director National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. To God be the glory for the great things He has done—and the greater things yet to come!
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