The ASCAP Foundation Rudy Perez Songwriting Scholarship is presented annually to an aspiring Latino songwriter who demonstrates potential to produce creative and original work and also demonstrates financial need.  The Scholarship is awarded to a student, on a rotating basis, at one of the following five schools:

●  University of Miami
●  Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico
●  The Julliard School
●  University of Texas at San Antonio
●  Los Angeles County High School for the Arts

2003 WINNER:  Mauricio Perez

Mauricio Perez born in Caracas, Venezuela started his music education at the age of 6. After taking private music lessons with renowned Venezuelan teachers, he attended the “Juan Jose Landaeta” Music Conservatory where he studied music theory, harmony and piano.

His principle instrument is piano, and during his youth he played more than 20 solo-piano concerts in important music venues in Caracas, such as “Teresa Carreño.” At the age of 12 he wrote his first song while playing with his band and since then writing music has been his passion.

Mauricio graduated from the University of Miami School of Music, majoring in Media Writing and Composition with a minor in Music Business. As a student at UM, he received The ASCAP Foundation Rudy Perez Songwriting scholarship and placed a song in a film called “Gringo Wedding.” Today Mauricio owns a recording studio and is currently working on his first solo-album project as a singer-songwriter. He is working with producer Juan Carlos Torrealba and artists such as Leo Quintero, Carlomagno Araya, Pedro Castillo, Boris Milan and many others. Mauricio will continue his music and creative career for many years to come.

2004 WINNER:  Elvin J. Serrano 

Elvin Serrano from Coamo, Puerto Rico became interested in music while attending a choral concert at the University of Puerto Rico, where he was an engineering student.  His music journey then began to take shape: as a singer. Years later his compositions included rock/pop songs. 

It was when his lack of formal training got in the way of his musical ideas that Serrano entered the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music (CMPR) in 2004.  At CMPR, he studied composition with Professor Armando L. Ramírez. Serrano has been the recipient of the Rudy Perez ASCAP Scholarship (2004); the Amaury Veray Scholarship for two consecutive years (2006 and 2007); a part-time internship with the Puerto Rico Musical Arts Corporation that led to a position as Assistant Coordinator of the Casals Festival while attending school (2005-2007); and, currently, the Mauritz von Bomhard Fellowship (which promotes and recognizes the art of writing for the human voice) at the University of Louisville, where he is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Composition under the tutelage of Dr. Steve Rouse.

Two of Serrano’s orchestral pieces, La Barca and Gayam y Acis Mu, have been performed by the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra – one of those times as part of Roberto Sierra’s residence with the orchestra.

Serrano is not only interested in concert music, but also in electronic and popular genres. Latin-American rhythms and melodies are central to his music language.

2005 WINNER:  Ricardo Romaneiro

Ricardo Romaneiro, born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, studied guitar and double bass before dedicating himself to composition. Ricardo graduated from the Pre- College and College Divisions of the Manhattan School of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music in Composition. He studied with Samuel Zyman, with whom he focused on the roots and influences of Latin American music. In 2001 Ricardo received the Manhattan School of Music’s Claremont Prize for his chamber orchestra composition entitled Alma Brasileira. This work received its premiere performance in Greenfield Hall at Manhattan School of Music.

 Currently, Ricardo is a second-year Master of Music candidate in composition at The Julliard School, where he studies with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Christopher Rouse. In 2004, Ricardo’s work for percussion trio, entitled Scry III, was choreographed by Julliard dancer and choreographer Bobbi Smith, and it has also been performed by the Sacramento Ballet Company.

2006 WINNER: David E. Ramos

David E. Ramos is currently a music major at San Antonio College in his hometown. He has been playing piano since his mother bought him a small keyboard when he was seven years old. The Eagle Scouts recognized his musical potential, awarding him a music merit badge. David began his classical training when he enrolled at San Antonio College last year.

In addition to   writing compositions that led to his selection for this songwriting scholarship, David also scored part of an independent film. His work in campus ministry influences the music he writes. David plays piano, guitar, drum and ocarina, and he also sings with a choir. He expects to receive his AA degree next fall and then to transfer to a four-year institution to add music marketing and choral studies to his education.

2007 WINNER: Lorely Rodriguez

Lorely Rodriguez, from Altedena, CA, is a graduate of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where she was first soprano and student director of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. She has participated in the Concert Choir, Jazz Combo, and Gospel Choir.

Lorely began singing as a child, taking voice seriously at the age of 13. She was first inspired to sing jazz by listening to Ella Fitzgerald. Since then, she has been studying jazz voice privately and enrolled in Jazz Improvisation and Theory classes. She has also branched into songwriting, fusing her knowledge of jazz with contemporary pop.

In 2007, Lorely was the only jazz vocalist in the country chosen as a finalist for the National Foundation for the Advancement for the Arts (NFAA) Young Arts Awards. She was invited to Miami, Florida, and won the Level II award in Jazz Voice. She was also awarded the DownBeat Student Music Award for Best Jazz Vocalist from a Performing Arts High School and a finalist for the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Ensemble. Lorely now attends the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.