Keani Braxton Black Excellence Music Scholarship

Thank you for visiting our page for The Keani Braxton Black Excellence in Music Memorial Scholarship Fund!

Keani Braxton was a Madison area daughter, twin sister, and violinist who tragically lost her life in a house fire on June 4th, 2020. Keani took solace in music upon the loss of her father when she was young, eventually gaining acceptance into Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO).

Keani’s talent was clear from the beginning and her sense of joy and playfulness made her a unique and beloved addition to WYSO and the Madison music community. This scholarship is inspired by Keani’s strong sense of community and love for music.

The goal of this scholarship is to provide assistance to Madison area high school graduates who will be attending a higher education institute to pursue their passion in music. There are significant discrepancies in race within symphonies and orchestras. By lifting up young Black musicians, we hope to contribute to closing this gap and create opportunities for more students to find joy in learning and sharing music.

It is our hope for the scholarship to have a home in the Madison Community Foundation. The Madison Community Foundation handles the intricacies of accounting and logistics that come with the banking and dispersal of scholarships. This foundation does require a minimum of $25,000 for a fund to be accepted. Our initial fundraising goal is $27,000 to help cover GoFundMe fees.

Thank you for your generosity in helping us meet this goal!