NEW ORLEANS – The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA), in partnership with the Trombone Shorty Foundation announced today the finalists of its annual visual art and songwriting contests. 13 high school juniors and seniors from across Louisiana will share $25,000 in college scholarships (finalists listed below). The 2024 contest theme was “Hidden Stories: Unveiling Louisiana’s Untold Narratives Through Art & Song” which encouraged students to uncover and explore lesser-known stories, figures, or aspects of Louisiana’s history and culture through an original work of art or song.
The 13 finalists and their families will gather to find out their final ranking, and scholarship award amount at the Scholarship Art & Songwriting Contest Awards Luncheon on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.
“We are so impressed with the quality of the work – both art and song – that the students have created for this year’s contests,” said Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA. “This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Scholarship Art Contest. We couldn’t be prouder of all the young artists and songwriters we have been able to highlight and support through this program over the past 15 years.”
Songwriting Contest Finalists: A panel of celebrity judges, including Trombone Shorty Foundation
Executive Director – Bill Taylor, Ashley Shabankareh, George Wilde, Nate Cameron and Chris Finney selected three finalists to share $6,000 in college scholarships. Judging criteria was based on structure and composition, melody, and lyrics.
*Soundcloud files for each song are hyperlinked below.
Noa Nasoff (Senior, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans)
Vada Powell (Senior, Sterlington High School, Monroe)
Caroline Tebbs (Senior, Pope John Paul II High School, Slidell)
“The talent that we are witnessing from this next generation of songwriters just blows us away,” said Bill Taylor, Executive Director of the Trombone Shorty Foundation. “It continues to be an honor to partner with the Rodrigue Foundation to support the development of original songs from these young, creative forces!”
Visual Art Contest Winners: Contest judges selected the below 10 finalists to share $19,000 in college scholarships. Individual visual artwork was judged on concept/design, technical skill and creativity.
Art contest judges included Jill Hackney (Artist), Misty Taylor (Collections and Exhibitions Manager – Hilliard Art Museum), Emily Feazel (Designer, Exhibits & Special Events – R.W. Norton Art Gallery), Stefan Borssen (Director – Imperial Calcasieu Museum), Priscilla Simpson (Executive Director – Shaw Center for the Arts), Shemsi Frezel (Curator – Rodrigue Studios) and Catherine Pears (Executive Director Alexandria Museum of Art).
Aoife Davoren (Senior, Academy of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau)
“Si Dur D’être Seul”
Jacelyn Keller (Senior, St. Joseph’s Academy, Baton Rouge)
“River of Falling Hair”
Isaac Hogan (Senior, Zachary High School, Zachary)
“The Escaping Mind”
James Xu (Senior, Baton Rouge Magnet High School/533 Art Studio, Baton Rouge)
“Pointe Au Chien: Resilient Beauty”
Sherry Yang (Senior, Live Oak High School, Winston/533 Art Studio, Baton Rouge)
“Level Up”
Wanda Hu (Junior, Benjamin Franklin High School, New Orleans)
“Following Tradition”
Christian Jackson (Junior, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, New Orleans)
“REDLINED”
Madaline Kennemer (Junior, Southside High School, Youngsville)
“Pizazz of Jazz”
Stanley Lin (Junior, Brusly High School, Brusly/533 Art Studio, Baton Rouge)
“Dire Hospital”
Emerson Pontiff (Junior, John Paul the Great Academy, Lafayette)
“Simple But Extraordinary Breakfast”
Special thanks to this year’s Art & Songwriting Contest sponsors: Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, Jones Walker LLP, Trombone Shorty Foundation, Keith Wildhaber Charitable Fund, and Paul J. Leaman, Jr.
Founded by George Rodrigue in 2009, the GRFA Scholarship Art & Songwriting Contest has received over 6,500 submissions and awarded $605,000 in total scholarships to almost 235 students. For more information, please visit www.rodriguefoundation.org.
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