Brathan Nielsen awarded the 2023 Steve Shirts Band Scholarship from the Utah Music Foundation
Brathan Nielsen
May 16, 2023
Salt Lake City, UT — Utah Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships to musical students from Utah communities, is thrilled to announce Brathan Nielsen as the recipient of the 2023 Steve Shirts Band scholarship. Brathan is a 2023 graduate of North Sanpete High School in Mount Pleasant, Utah and will be attending Snow College this fall.
Brathan Nielsen is an aspiring composer and musician. He has shown leadership as the drum major for marching band, tenor section leader for choir, and saxopone section leader for concert band and jazz band. He spends most of his time in the practice room perfecting the art of the piano and saxophone. He is very proud and excited to win the Steve Shirts Band Scholarship.
“Thank you so much for choosing me to be the recipient of the scholarship! Ive been working very hard on my saxophone audition and its awesome to to see that it paid off. I am very excited to start my career in music and composition..“
This $500 scholarship is awarded each year based on the applicant’s involvement in band, a recorded audition, and a brief essay. This short essay invites students to reflect on how band has influenced their life and how they will be involved in band going forward. The application process opens each spring and applicants are invited to apply at www.utahmusicfoundation.org.
To view prior year recipients of this and other scholarships, please visit the Utah Music Foundation website.
For more information, please contact: info@utahmusicfoundation.org
About Steve Shirts
Steve Shirts has lived a life devoted to music. Born and raised in Cedar City, he graduated from Cedar High School and attended Southern Utah State College prior to serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return he graduated from SUSC with a BS in Music Education and returned to Cedar High School as band instructor.
During the course of his teaching career Shirts earned a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Southern Utah University. After a 32-year career as Cedar High School Band Director Mr. Steve Shirts was inducted into the Utah Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in February 2021.
According to UMEA Hall of Fame Chair Paul Watson, Shirts is a music teacher who, "for me and many others, best defines what we hope to be in our own classrooms. His music groups have achieved at a high level throughout his entire career. He inspires young people to do their best, to be passionate about their art, and to have fun along the way."
While Steve has been fortunate to work with great mentors over the years, has enjoyed time spent with directors from surrounding schools and has cherished his association with his students, his greatest support has come from his family including his wife, Jill, four children, Aubrey, Mavanee (Casey Nealon), Bradley, Stephanie and his grandson Eliot.
Aside from his position as Band Director, Shirts has served UMEA as Band Vice President and Awards Chair as well as positions in state, region and community music/arts organizations. He and his wife have also worked as staff members for 11 tours with the Utah Ambassadors of Music.
About Utah Music Foundation
Founded in 2018, the Utah Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students in Utah reach their musical and academic potential. Utah Music Foundation offers scholarships to musical high school students to help alleviate the financial burden of their college education. In 2020, more than 65 students representing over 25 high schools from 10 counties in Utah applied for available scholarships. Utah Music Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a public charity with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Visit www.UtahMusicFoundation.org for more information.