The Karl Jacob Sellner Singer-Songwriter Scholarship provides one teen singer-songwriter from the Pittsburgh area private music instruction in voice and guitar; the opportunity to develop songs, collaborate with our house band; record and perform. It honors the memory of Karl Jacob Sellner and ensures that his love of music will live on through the beautiful voices and songs created by Hope Academy students for many years to come.
Here is a link to an online application for the Karl Sellner Singer-Songwriter Scholarship. The deadline is October 15, 2017.
Please join us for the Karl Sellner Memorial Benefit Concert on SUN Sept 24 from 5 to 8 pm.
ABOUT KARL JACOB SELLNER
From an early age, Karl Jacob Sellner was simply captivated by his grandfather John Alden’s music, foreshadowing his life-long love of the performing arts. This passion was nurtured by his family and by his many experiences as a student of Hope Academy. As a teen and young adult, Karl became an accomplished guitar player and lyricist. As with his love of music, Karl found the other things he cared about early in life, including his wife Shelby and his calling to join the US Army to serve, like his grandfather had during WWII. Like so many gifted musicians before him, Karl’s light was also shadowed by bi-polar disorder. On, September 11, 2016 Karl’s pain was too much and he ended his life. The support of the Hope Academy community was treasured by his parents and 6 siblings during this time of grief and together they channeled this sadness into the Karl Jacob Sellner Memorial Fund for Hope Academy. This fund honors his memory and ensures that his love of music will live on through the beautiful voices, playing of various instruments, dance and acting of children for many years to come.