Chris Trousdale Dream Awards
for performers and songwriters
Established in 2021, The Chris Trousdale Dream Awards is a slate of prizes honoring the late performer and composer Chris Trousdale of the band Dream Street. The awards include scholarships awarded in partnership with three performing arts high schools in New York, California and Mr. Trousdale’s childhood home state of Michigan. Awards will also be granted through an essay competition open to emerging students of music and musical theater nationwide, which will serve to provide funding for out-of-town travel and accommodations related to auditions, try-outs or visits to an arts school or summer music or theater program. This scholarship program has been generously funded by Craig Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of NBC Universal, and member of the Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Board of Directors.
Chris Trousdale was an American singer, dancer, composer, and actor. He was a member of The Broadway Kids and the boy band Dream Street, and began his professional career at age eight, touring with the production of Les Misérables alongside Ashley Tisdale. He was later cast as Friedrich von Trapp in the 1998 Broadway revival of The Sound of Music and also performed in Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. At 14, Trousdale joined Dream Street and the group released their debut album in 2000 followed by The Biggest Fan in 2002. Trousdale also had a solo career with releases of the singles "Kissless Christmas" and "Wild Christmas" for School's Out! Christmas album in addition to popular duets with the girl group Play.
Eligibility Requirements
All applicants:
must be a Junior or Senior in High School in the United States.
may only submit one application per BMI Foundation awards program.
Application Requirements
An essay responding to one of the following prompts:
How has your racial, ethnic or cultural identity influenced your approach to your work and your dreams for the future?
Describe how music, theater, or live performance can be a transformative experience for both performer and audience. Why is live performance important and what do you hope to contribute to the field?
APPLICATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 16, 2024