The Frost School of Music continued to expand its partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, once again hosting the nonprofit organization in an emotional gala ceremony and reception last Wednesday evening at the Knight Center for Music Innovation and announcing two major scholarships to incoming students.
This is the third year in a row that the Frost School has hosted the Latin music world’s leading effort to support music education. Last year, the school awarded the first Frost School of Music-Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation Scholarship to Irenda Arano Diaz. This year, aspiring singers and songwriters Lea Garza and Melissa Cruz were the lucky recipients of a combined total of $525,000 for the two Frost School scholarships for tuition and pathway services for a four-year degree. Izzi Guzman, a current doctoral student at the Frost School, was also selected for a tuition assistance scholarship for the second year in a row.
Their awards were part of $1.7 million in scholarships announced by the foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Miami-based Latin Recording Academy, producer of the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.
“The Frost School of Music is proud to once again partner with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation to award scholarships to deserving students in an even bigger way this year,” said Serona Elton, the Frost School’s interim vice dean, who welcomed attendees from the stage. “We’re glad to offer these two talented artists a remarkable, multidisciplinary education where they can study with world-renowned faculty, gain extensive performance experience and earn a degree at a top music school in the heart of Miami, a hub for Latin music.”
The 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship Ceremony presented by the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation was named in honor of Latin pop icon Noel Schajris, composer of some of Latin music’s most beloved songs and the latest in the string of stars to join the foundation’s efforts. “It’s the honor of my life to be here,” said Schajris from the stage, casually elegant in a pale blue suit. He performed several of his songs with the talented and awestruck scholarship recipients, as attendees who packed the Knight Center’s Newman Recital Hall cheered and sang along.
Schajris, who brought his wife and two young children to the event, was the benefactor of the 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship. Also known as the Prodigy Scholarship, it was awarded to Puerto Rican violinist Razil Rosado Figueroa, who also performed, to pursue a degree at Berklee College of Music.
The evening was filled with a warmth and emotion rare for an industry event, as executives, producers and other professionals joined students’ family members to applaud the immensely appealing recipients who performed, whose youthful talent and artistry represent music’s future. A series of videos showing the often-tearful young musicians getting news of their awards had many wiping their eyes. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity, and I promise I’ll be worth it,” said Garza, one of the Frost School scholarship recipients.
“I’m going to have to get Kleenex to sponsor us next time, because I haven’t stopped crying,” Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, executive director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, said from the stage.
“Every scholarship we award represents an investment in the future of Latin music and in the extraordinary talent of the next generation of creators,” Egusquiza said. “We are proud to help remove financial barriers so these students can pursue their education, develop their artistry and build lasting careers in music. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donors and partners, whose commitment continues to create life-changing opportunities for young musicians across the United States and Ibero-America.”
Shajris brought an integrity that added immensely to the evening’s emotion. Not only is he a universally cherished artist whose songs have been part of people’s lives, but he has spent significant time and effort helping young artists and teaching, both privately and in online courses, making him deeply sympathetic to the aspiring teenagers onstage and the cause of music education.
“The greatest blessing of my life has been to be able to share what I’ve learned and what has helped me with so many people through my music classes,” Schajris said. “Education is the foundation for being a human being. To be a partner with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation in this amazing experience and adventure is the honor of my lifetime. I will always thank, with all my heart, not only the Frost School of Music but every institution, foundation and organization that gives people the chance to access that amazing education. ¡Que viva la música!”
The two Frost School scholarship recipients promise to be a vibrant addition to the student body. Garza, who was born in Miami and raised here and in Mexico, has been singing since age 5 and has already performed in major venues and placed in top competitions in Europe, Mexico and Asia. Her father is Javier Garza, a multi-GRAMMY- and Latin GRAMMY-winning engineer and mixer for a host of top Latin artists. Cruz, a Cuban American and Miami native, was raised with the sounds and traditions of her parents’ Cuban music, plays guitar and piano and started her own salsa band at age 14. Both will join the Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship (M.A.D.E.) program.
Their excitement and energy were palpable as they joined in a thrilling rendition of Gloria Estefan’s “Hoy,” backed by their fellow scholarship recipients on piano, bass, guitar, percussion, drums, clarinet, saxophone and trombone.
The event drew multiple industry leaders and artists, further affirming the Frost School’s decades-long connections to the Latin music world so prominent in Miami. They included alumni Andres Sandoval, an executive with Apple Music; Julio Bague, vice president, Latin Division, East Coast and Puerto Rico at peermusic; and producer, composer and conductor Carlos “Carlitos” Lopez, the event’s music director, as well as younger graduates Gabriel Mena, with William Morris Endeavor; and Omar Ruiz, with entertainment law firm Buser Legal.
Also attending were famed music producer Sebastian Krys, whose work with a "who’s who" of Latin music has earned him eight GRAMMY and 14 Latin GRAMMY awards; Omer Pardillo-Cid, former manager of the legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz, executor of her estate, and benefactor of another named scholarship; and Jesus Malverde Gonzalez, VP, Creative—Latin for BMI. Acclaimed Afro-Cuban jazz singer Dayme Arocena (who will perform with the Frost Latin Jazz Orchestra in April), electronic music artist and producer Mr. Pauer; and top Mexican group Banda Los Recoditos were also there.
