PHOTO PROVIDED The Uptown Music Collective recently awarded over $19,000 in scholarships for its upcoming school year.

WILLIAMSPORT — The Uptown Music Collective recently announced it awarded 11 scholarships for the non-profit school of music’s 2025-2026 school year, totaling $19,800.

In addition, $5,400 will be added to the school’s financial aid fund thanks to partnerships with the Hudock Capital Group, UPMC Health Plan and The Kiessling Group of Janney Montgomery Scott. Funding for the scholarships was made possible through the generous donations of the local community, including both individual and corporate donors. Each of the 11 scholarships awarded will cover one full year at the school.

In its 25th year of serving the local community, the Uptown Music Collective has stood by its promise to never turn away a deserving student due to financial reasons, a policy in place since its founding in 2000.

In its early days, teachers would accept students in need on a pro bono basis, or the school would cover the expenses of the student’s lessons.

In 2009, the Collective offered its first scholarship, the Alice Hileman Memorial Scholarship, which was created and funded by Hileman’s daughter. That scholarship was soon followed by the Lew Gilberti Memorial Scholarship, created by family and friends in memory of local businessman/musician Lew Gilberti.

Eight years ago, the Uptown Music Collective significantly increased its scholarship offerings and formalized a new sliding-scale discount rate that allows the school to help even more students in need. Aside from the generous donations from individuals and local businesses, the financial aid being offered is the result of the school’s highly successful Scholarship Fundraising Concert held every January at the Journey Bank Community Arts Center.

“Each year, we continue to be amazed at the generosity of our community,” said Jared Mondell, UMC Assistant Executive Director. “Our scholarship and financial aid program meets a critical need for our students, allowing them to learn their instruments, grow as students, and gain valuable skills that will last a lifetime.”

The Alice Hileman Memorial Scholarship has evolved since its creation and is now a merit-based scholarship awarded to a graduating Collective senior. This year’s Hileman Scholarship, under the stewardship of Alice’s daughter, was awarded to UMC Senior Gianna Waldman, who is beginning her journey at Penn State University.

The 2025-2026 UMC scholarship recipients include Scott Shaffer, Hudock Capital Group Scholarship; Grace Godin, UPMC North Central Pa Scholarship; Jocelyn Moser, Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital Scholarship; Nathaniel McClelland, Chartwell Hotels LLC Scholarship; Ashton Munro, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships Scholarship; Mackenzie Hakes, Lew Gilberti Memorial Scholarship; Eliana Williams, Angelina’s Song Scholarship; Caiden Scarfo, Brickyard/Stonehouse Scholarship; Matt Bellino, The Colonel’s Community Scholarship, made possible by the UMC’s partnership with the local KFC; Rian Gephart, Uptown Music Collective Staff Scholarship; and Rowan White, The Miller Family Scholarship in honor of Amanda Miller.

In the last 25-plus years, the Uptown Music Collective has grown from what many once called “the best-kept secret in the Williamsport area” to one of the area’s most highly respected nonprofit educational organizations. The school is dedicated to providing a well-rounded education to students of all ages, from children as young as three years old to retired adults and everyone in between. The Collective is known for its positive peer group, inspiring teachers and a diverse multitude of performance opportunities.

Although the Collective is known for highly talented student performers, there is no previous experience needed to begin enrollment at the Collective. The school is set to begin its 2025 Fall Semester the first week of September, kicking off its 25th anniversary year. There are currently openings for students of all levels who are looking for private instruction on drums, bass, guitar and vocals. The school feels strongly about the role of music in creating well-rounded, thoughtful young people, and works to establish characteristics like self-discipline and personal responsibility in each of its students through healthy habits. Uptown Music Collective students consistently perform at high levels, not only musically, but also in their respective schools and as valuable members of other community organizations.

For more information about the Collective’s Scholarship Program, Partnership Program or the school in general, call 570-329-0888 or visit www.uptownmusic.org.