SYRACUSE, New York — Syracuse University is receiving a $320,000 gift from Grammy winner Billy Joel to help aspiring musicians.
Syracuse's Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts was one of seven East Coast schools chosen by Joel to receive seed money, musical scholarships and endowments as part of his recently launched music education initiative, said Carole Brzozowski, the college's dean.
Syracuse will use the money to establish four Billy Joel Fellowships in Composition and hopes to enroll the first two students next fall, Brzozowski said.
The money will cover full tuition for the two-year master's program, provide some support money for each student and, at the end of their studies, possibly help pay for either a high-level album with their music or a concert of their work in a prominent place, Brzozowski said.
"Because of Mr. Joel's strong commitment to the arts and arts education, we will be able to give student composers even more opportunities to grow as artists and make an impact on the world," she said.
Joel also made grants to the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester; New York University; The Juilliard School; State University of New York at Purchase; New England Conservatory; and Tanglewood Music Center, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Academy for Advanced Musical Study. Each institution will use the money for different needs.
Joel, a longtime advocate for music education, has held master's classes on college campuses across the country and around the world for more than 20 years.
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