BILL GRAHAM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION--Grant Recipients

Founded in San Francisco in 1971, Blue Bear School of American Music offers quality education in popular music styles, with both private and group instruction by professional players. With programs from Beginning Electric Guitar to Songwriting, from Pop Harmonies to Rock and Blues Band Workshops, absolute beginners to advanced musicians of all ages find programs at Blue Bear to suit their needs.

For the past 16 years, Blue Bear has awarded annual scholarships to a handful of eager young musicians with tuition grants based on talent, skill and dedication. Perhaps the biggest success story to come from the Scholarship Program so far is Arion Salazar, scholarship recipient in 1988. Arion first gained some industry success as the bassist for Fungo Mungo, who released an album on Island Records in 1992. Now Arion is a bona fide rock star as bassist for Third Eye Blind. Arion has said that he really valued his year at Blue Bear for the confidence it gave him and for insights into the lifestyles of musicians gained from his teachers. All at the school have been especially pleased and honored since Arion himself began supporting the Scholarship Program in 1999.

www.bluebearmusic.org

Third Eye Blind: Arion Salazar (2nd from r) and Third Eye Blind.