Four students in the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music have been awarded the Lamond GenNext Award from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation to attend the NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif. in January. In addition, a grant from the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association will further assist students in attending the NAMM Show completely free of charge.
This is the first time that the University has received this grant, as well as the first time that School of Music program has attended the NAMM Show.
The NAMM Show is the music industry’s largest gathering with approximately 90,000 attendees. NAMM presents the award to honor college students who demonstrate excellence in the field of music.
Senior Scheidt School of Music students Bryan Edward Henderson, Christopher David Coley, Ezekiel James Wright and Connor Jacob Lorino were among the nearly 150 recipients recognized.
“Attending the 2026 NAMM Show, the largest gathering of music industry professionals in the world, offers our students an invaluable opportunity to immerse themselves in the future of the industry. From sessions on marketing and networking to insights on emerging trends and access to cutting-edge products from more than 3,500 global brands, there is truly nothing else like it. Most importantly, experiences like NAMM reinforce that Memphis IS music, and our students are prepared to become the next generation of industry leaders,” Kyle Blake Jones, DMA, UofM assistant professor of Music Business said.
Recipients of the award are provided with a complimentary conference badge, a stipend to offset the cost of travel ($750) and access to specific programming and networking events while in attendance such as:
- Access to the 2026 NAMM Show floor, with more than 3,500 music products exhibitors, and 6,000 global product brands
- GenNext/College Music Society educational sessions presented by experts across music and music business industries
- The Sandy Feldstein Industry Roundtable, moderated by NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak
Students were required to meet minimum academic requirements including an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, securing two letters of support from faculty or industry professionals, submit transcripts and a resume, their achievements in the music industry, and a detail of how attending the conference will impact their professional artistry.
