EllaBop Fellowship

EllaBop’s flagship program, the EllaBop Fellowship, is designed to empower girls in jazz through community, mentorship, and real-world musical experiences. Fellows build confidence, develop their skills, and connect with like-minded peers in a supportive, all-girls environment, gaining tools they can take back into their school band programs and beyond.

About the Fellowship

What is the EllaBop Fellowship?
A fellowship built around community.

EllaBop is a jazz fellowship for high school girls in the St. Louis area. It is a space for young women in St. Louis to grow, connect, and explore jazz together. Each year, a small cohort spends the school year together learning the music, building skills, and building the kind of community that makes growth possible.

Who is the EllaBop Fellowship for?
Any high school girl with a spark of curiosity about jazz.

EllaBop isn't looking for the most advanced players. It's looking for girls who are curious, who want to be part of something, and who are ready to grow both musically and personally. Each cohort is selected through an application process that prioritizes enthusiasm and attitude over experience level. Scholarships are available so that cost is never a barrier.

What a year in the EllaBop Fellowship looks like:

• Summer Kickoff — A casual gathering to meet the cohort and build community before the year begins.

• Panel Discussion — Candid conversation with professional female jazz musicians.

• Jam Session Workshop — The unwritten rules of jazz: how to show up, call a tune, and own the room.

• Headshots & Bio Writing — Every participant leaves with a professional photo and a real musical identity on paper.

• Mock Audition Workshop — Hands-on prep for district and state jazz honor band auditions.

• Transcription Workshop — Learning to learn by ear, the way jazz musicians have always done it.

• Concert Outing — Attend a live performance by a female jazz artist, including a meet & greet.

• Personal Journal — A keepsake used throughout the year for notetaking and to reflect on your growth.