Paola Rodriguez Announced As 15th Annual peermusic Latin Scholarship Winner
Above: Paola Rodriguez, 2018 peermusic Latin Scholarship winner
Carolina Arenas, Director of the BMI Foundation’s peermusic Latin Scholarship, has announced Paola Rodriguez as the winner of the 15th annual competition. Rodriguez, a graduate student at the University of Miami, received the $5,000 award for her song, “Lluvia.” She will perform at a BMI-sponsored event highlighting songwriting on October 17, 2018 in Miami the night before the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.
This year’s competition again featured multi-platinum bachata star Prince Royce as its spokesperson, and a judging panel that included Latin GRAMMY-winning musician Nicolás Junca from the band Monsieur Periné; BMI’s VP of Latin Music Delia Orjuela; and peermusic’s VPs of East and West Coast Latin Divisions, Julio Bagué and Yvonne Drazan.
“I’m extremely excited and incredibly grateful to have been awarded the peermusic Latin Scholarship,” said Rodriguez. “Songwriting means everything to me, but studying music and making it your career isn’t always an easy road. Winning this scholarship is reassurance that it’s all worth it in the end — proof that my songs mean something, and there are no words to describe how amazing that feels.”
The peermusic Latin Scholarship was established in 2003 through the generosity and vision of peermusic CEO Ralph Peer II, for the purpose of encouraging the next generation of Latin composers. The contest is open to students between the ages of 17 and 24, who are enrolled in any college or university located in the United States and Puerto Rico. A $5,000 scholarship is presented annually for the best original song or instrumental composition in any Latin genre. For over a decade, the program has nurtured promising musicians who have gone on to distinguish themselves in the fields of television, film, recorded music, and concert performance.
Rodríguez is a bilingual Puerto Rican singer-songwriter who brings a fresh and innovative sound to the current Latin Pop music scene.
A graduate of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Paola obtained her degree in popular music composition and production. Songs from her self-released debut EP "Lluvia" have been placed on top Spotify playlists like “Praise en Español” and “Más Motivación”. They have also earned prestige among finalists in the Latin category of the 2017 International Songwriting Competition.
Currently residing in Miami, Rodriguez is pursuing a master’s degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industries at Frost. She is also working on her new single, "Candela," which combines American and Latin rhythms and melodies.
Listen to her winning track below:
About peermusic
Founded by Ralph Peer in 1928, peermusic is a global network of music publishing companies operating from 33 offices in 27 countries, with well over a quarter of a million titles in the company’s catalogue, and songs that vary from country, blues, jazz, and pop to Latin, concert, and rock & roll. For more information, visit www.peermusic.com.
About the BMI Foundation
The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to encourage the creation, performance, and study of American music. The Foundation’s programs include competitive scholarships for songwriters and composers, operating grants for nonprofit arts presenters, and support for innovative music education initiatives in schools and communities across the country. For more information about the work of the Foundation, please visit our website at www.bmifoundation.org. For exclusive news and content, follow @bmifoundation on Twitter and Instagram, and like “BMI Foundation” on Facebook at facebook.com/bmifoundation.