Brad Sweeney awarded the 2025 Steve Shirts Band Scholarship from the Utah Music Foundation
Brad Sweeney
June 15, 2025
Salt Lake City, UT — Utah Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships to musical students from Utah communities, is thrilled to announce Brad Sweeney as the recipient of the 2025 Steve Shirts Band scholarship. Brad is a 2025 graduate of Carbon High School in Price, Utah and will be attending Southern Utah University.
"My name is Brad Sweeney, and I’m from the rural city of Price, Utah. I began playing music at the age of seven and discovered my passion for the trumpet at age eleven. What started as a school activity quickly became a meaningful escape from the stress of a turbulent world. I played not just for a grade, but because I loved the instrument and the music written for it.
In high school, I earned top honors at regional and state events, including eight superior trumpet solo ratings. I held first trumpet positions in multiple honor bands, including the Rural Utah, Utah Tech University, Southern Utah University, and the All-State Wind Symphony Honor Bands. These experiences strengthened my musicianship and deepened my passion for sharing music with others.
After my LDS mission, I plan to attend Southern Utah University as a Music Major. Along with my future career, I hope to share music in the future as a private trumpet teacher and inspire others to find a love for music just as I have.”
This $500 scholarship is awarded each year based on the applicant’s involvement in band, a recorded audition, and a brief essay. This short essay invites students to reflect on how band has influenced their life and how they will be involved in band going forward. The application process opens each spring and applicants are invited to apply at www.utahmusicfoundation.org.
To view prior year recipients of this and other scholarships, please visit the Utah Music Foundation website.
For more information, please contact: info@utahmusicfoundation.org
About Steve Shirts
Steve Shirts has lived a life devoted to music. Born and raised in Cedar City, he graduated from Cedar High School and attended Southern Utah State College prior to serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return he graduated from SUSC with a BS in Music Education and returned to Cedar High School as band instructor.
During the course of his teaching career Shirts earned a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Southern Utah University. After a 32-year career as Cedar High School Band Director Mr. Steve Shirts was inducted into the Utah Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in February 2021.
According to UMEA Hall of Fame Chair Paul Watson, Shirts is a music teacher who, "for me and many others, best defines what we hope to be in our own classrooms. His music groups have achieved at a high level throughout his entire career. He inspires young people to do their best, to be passionate about their art, and to have fun along the way."
While Steve has been fortunate to work with great mentors over the years, has enjoyed time spent with directors from surrounding schools and has cherished his association with his students, his greatest support has come from his family including his wife, Jill, four children, Aubrey, Mavanee (Casey Nealon), Bradley, Stephanie (Rowdy Miller), and his grandson Eliot.
Aside from his position as Band Director, Shirts has served UMEA as Band Vice President and Awards Chair as well as positions in state, region and community music/arts organizations. He and his wife have also worked as staff members for 11 tours with the Utah Ambassadors of Music.
About Utah Music Foundation
Founded in 2018, the Utah Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students in Utah reach their musical and academic potential. Utah Music Foundation offers scholarships to musical high school students to help alleviate the financial burden of their college education. Utah Music Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a public charity with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Visit www.UtahMusicFoundation.org for more information.