By helping pay for college, we empower the brightest individuals to become who they were always destined to be.
Pictured above: Kevin Garren (left), Thomas Kurtz (right)
The D’Addario Foundation is honored to award Thomas Kurtz, Professor of Music at San Antonio College and Doctoral Candidate at the University of Texas Austin, the first Kevin Garren Memorial Scholarship. Kurtz demonstrates dedication and passion for tackling an underrepresented field of work with the intent to educate and improve the quality of life for young musicians.
Currently, a Doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin, Thomas’s primary interest focuses on musicians’ health. As a certified Body Mapping educator in training, Kurtz wants to educate students on the importance of incorporating a secure somatic foundation in their musical training. Through Thomas’s research, he’s learned that injuries amongst musicians, such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and TMJ, are just a few still widely stigmatized.
With this scholarship, Thomas plans to conduct clinics in public schools across the central Texas region to provide free education to students (ages 10-18), introducing Body Mapping techniques for musicians to implement in their daily practice.
“As a passion-driven individual and fervent educator with an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, equity, diversity, belonging, and accessibility in the arts, my aim is to foster a community within which my students have the resources available to reach their full potential,” says Thomas Kurtz.
The Kevin Garren Memorial Scholarship launched in 2022 after Kevin, a D’Addario employee for ten years, tragically passed away. This scholarship is for college juniors, seniors, or post-graduates enrolled in an accredited university studying product/industrial design, engineering, music business, or woodwinds performance.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Thomas Kurtz on winning the inaugural Kevin Garren Memorial Scholarship established by the D’Addario Foundation and D’Addario & Co.,” says Cindi Garren, Kevin’s wife. “Kevin was a titan in the music industry with a passion for educating anyone who desired to hone their musical craft. It is clear to see this passion in Thomas Kurtz as he strives to bring awareness and free education to young music students. Thank you, D’Addario Foundation and D’Addario & Company, for this Memorial Scholarship in Kevin Garren’s honor and for keeping his legacy alive through this scholarship.”
Applications for the 2023 Kevin Garren Memorial Scholarship will open in late spring. Learn more here.
By helping pay for college, we empower the brightest individuals to become who they were always destined to be.
You can now donate the spare change from your everyday credit or debit card purchases by joining the D’Addario Foundation’s Round-Up Program.
