France Receives Prestigious Jazz Scholarship

Congratulations to the 2026 RIJF/ESM Scholarship recipient, jazz trumpeter Nathaniel F., a senior (now graduate) at Webster Schroeder High School.

Nate is co-principal trumpet of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and recently won a scholarship to attend the 50th Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference that took place May 26-30 at the Eastman School of Music. Nate will join the studio of Professor of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media Clay Jenkins.

“I attend Webster Schroeder High School as a graduating senior. I enjoy playing the trumpet, competing in wrestling, playing video games, fishing, and staying active through working out. I also love my job at WonderCare where I get to work with kids K-5,” Nate noted.

The Rochester International Jazz Festival/Eastman School of Music Jazz Scholarship Program (RIJF/ESM Scholarship) is sponsored by RIJF producers Marc Iacona and John Nugent and funded by proceeds from the annual festival. Since the program’s inception in 2002, RIJF has committed more than $300,000 in scholarship support to Eastman, helping talented young musicians attend the school. To date, 46 scholarships have been awarded.

Marc and John presented the award on Monday, June 22, on the City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by The Community Foundation during the first of two free Jazz Scholarship Concerts. Alongside France, the concert featured performances by current students and faculty from Eastman’s Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media program, as well as RIJF alums.