BYU-Hawaii student won 2nd winner of a songwriting scholarship

      Outshining thousands of students from different schools and states, Hailey Gardiner, an ICS junior from North Carolina, was awarded second-place award in the BMI Foundation’s 15th Annual John Lennon Scholarships. It was announced on Nov 13, 2012 and Gardiner was awarded with $5,000 for her song “One Man Show.”

        Gardiner is well-known by BYU-Hawaii students as a member of the Gardiner Sisters musical band. Gardiner said she has dedicated her life to music since she was young. She is a singer and a songwriter of pop music along with her sisters, Allie and Mandi.

The Gardiner Sisters has garnered an ever-growing worldwide following on YouTube with their original songs and music videos. 

Matt Walker, a vocal studies junior from California, said, “Love and appreciation of music is not something academic. It is something everyone can enjoy. As a music major, I think it is wonderful people can pursue their dreams and they can be recognized for their efforts. ”

“I heard her song ‘One Man Show’ and it sounds like the kind of pop song that I like,” said Ellen Lo, an accounting senior from Hong Kong as well as a pianist. “The music really connected to the young people’s culture and feeling. The melody is remarkable. I enjoy it a lot.”

Yuto Inamori, who is the BYUHSA vice president for Clubs and organization, as well as a senior in finance from Japan, said “I am happy to hear a BYUH student was awarded in a music completion, especially since she beat students from famous music schools.” 

      According to the official website, the John Lennon Scholarships is a program that recognizes talented songwriters between the ages of 17 and 24 who have a special interest in music. More than $300,000 has been awarded over the last 13 years to students from select colleges, universities and music schools, and from national submissions from the National Association of Music Education/MENC chapters.

      The 2012 judges included Warner Chappell Music Publishing VP Lee Dannay, Wind-up Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Gregg Wattenberg, Producer Benny Blanco, Imagem Music President Richard Stumpf, and SONGS Music Publishing President and Head of A&R Ron Perry.

      The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985 to support the creation, performance, and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants.