WOODY HERMAN|SISTER FABIAN
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
AUDITION INFORMATION
The Woody Herman | Sister Fabian Scholarship is open to high school senior jazz musicians in the Greater Milwaukee area who plan to pursue a career in music or music education after graduation. This scholarship is meant to fulfill Woody’s desire to recognize and assist local student jazz musicians.
Auditions will take place as part of CIVIC MUSIC’s High School Competition, set for Saturday, January 24, 2026. Scholarship candidates will audition for a separate panel of judges who will select the top jazz musician to receive a $1,000 scholarship. This winner is expected to perform on the February 15, 2026 Showcase Recital.
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AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
ELIGIBILITY:
Open to high school senior instrumental and vocal jazz musicians who live in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Washington or Racine County, are performing at or above WSMA Class A level, and plan to pursue a career in music or music education.
SONG SELECTIONS:
Choose one ballad, one up-tempo and Duke Ellington’s C Jams Blues.
Ballads:
Stardust
My Foolish Heart
Skylark
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Up-Tempo:
I Got Rhythm
It Don’t Mean A Thing
Take the “A” Train
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All applicants perform:
C Jam Blues
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ACCOMPANIMENT: Applicants are encouraged to perform with an accompanist or combo. A recorded accompaniment will also be acceptable.
Instrumental applicants should select one ballad and one up-tempo rhythm changes tune from the lists below. Judges will listen for the applicant's ability to present the melody and improvise one or more of the choruses. Applicants are also required to play several choruses of Ellington's C Jam Blues.
Drummers: Must demonstrate the ability to play and improvise in Jazz, Latin, and Rock styles.
Vocal applicants should select one ballad and one up-tempo rhythm changes tune from the lists below. Applicants are also required to sing the head and improvise several choruses of Ellington's C Jam Blues. You will be required to sing using the lyrics and then improvise (scat).
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WOODY HERMAN
Milwaukee native Woody Herman achieved worldwide fame as leader of the Thundering Herd, a lean, muscular sounding big band best known for the 1939 million-seller “Woodchopper’s Ball.” But he might not have made it without the help of a Saint John Cathedral High School teacher, Sister Fabian Reilly.
Herman began performing here at age 5 as “Woody Herman: the Boy Wonder of the Saxophone.” By his teen years, music was his full-time job. But as his star rose, his grades tumbled. He credits Sister Fabian with helping him through those difficult days. “I’d get to school and conk out from working late,” Herman once recalled. But Sister Fabian defended for him when the principal threatened disciplinary action, helping him with his assignments and encouraging him to stick with performing.
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Herman left Milwaukee in 1931 and within 10 years had won the first of several Grammys he would receive during his lifetime. At age 62, with his career beginning to wane, Herman established a fund at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation as tribute to Sister Fabian, dedicated to helping young musicians. It was a graceful coda to a long and classy career - -one that began with a helping hand and concluded by paying it forward.
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That original fund was transferred out a few years ago, but thanks to some generous donors to CIVIC MUSIC, we are pleased to be able to take up the mantle with this scholarship that honors Sister Fabian and Woody's desire to recognize and assist local student jazz musicians.
Woody Herman passed away in October 1987.​
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