Among its many exciting activities, one of GRAMMY U’s hallmark initiatives is the annual GRAMMY U Mentorship Program.
Presented by Amazon Music, the annual mentorship program connects aspiring GRAMMY U members to the Recording Academy's Voting and Professional members for a six-month, one-on-one mentorship experience. Members can apply to one of five tracks focused on specific areas of interest: performance, songwriting, producing/engineering, marketing and music business, which includes entertainment law, touring, licensing and more.
This year's program connected 950 GRAMMY U members with music professionals in their fields of interest. Participants represented more than 45 states as well as several countries around the world: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Ireland, India, Nigeria, Romania, Spain, and Turkey. Participating mentors work for notable music companies such as Amazon Music, Red Light Management, Universal Music Group, and of course, the Recording Academy. Mentees are studying in more than 300 different schools or gaining guidance post-graduation as a result of GRAMMY U’s 2024 membership expansion.
Throughout the program, mentors and mentees can participate in a variety of professional development events. Mentorship Mixers were hosted by Los Angeles, New York, Florida, Texas, Memphis, Nashville, and Washington D.C. Chapters. Local members were available throughout those networking events for GRAMMY U members to ask questions and connect.
During a virtual “Meet the Mentors” webinar series, notable mentors in each specific mentorship pathway could be accessed globally for conversations in everything from entertainment law to performance. "All of the mentors who spoke were enthusiastic about sharing their wisdom with the mentees, and it was beautiful to get to see those relationships build in front of my eyes," said GRAMMY U National Membership Rep Della Anderson, who coordinated these sessions. "These sessions truly created another layer of engagement besides 1:1 conversations which elevated the mentorship experience to a whole new level.”
Read on to discover the inspiring success stories of six standout mentor-mentee pairs.
Mentorship Track: Music Business
Celia Rose | Mentor | Chicago Chapter
Bella Karageanes | Mentee | Chicago Chapter
Bella Karageanes, a recent graduate of Michigan State University, was paired with Celia Rose, Co-Founder of What Up Pitches music licensing agency. Through the GRAMMY U Mentorship Program, Karageanes was connected to her first industry mentor and even landed a sync licensing internship that allowed her to explore the inner workings of Rose's company.
Based on their mentorship chats, Celia Rose said Karageanes seemed like the right fit for her company’s winter internship program. "I’ve seen her grow immensely in her knowledge of song rights, clearance and sonic distinction. She has learned how to research TV shows, listen for their current music needs, and tailor playlists to submit to these shows," Rose explains.
Notes Karageanes, "Being trusted with important tasks and having the opportunity to collaborate with such a supportive team has made me feel more empowered and prepared to pursue my career."
Beyond gaining confidence and hands-on experience placing music in TV, film, and advertising spots, the most impactful lesson Karageanes learned is to always lead with kindness. Watching her mentor in action, Karageanes noticed how "building authentic relationships starts with treating everyone with care and integrity." She now applies this wisdom to her own journey in the music industry.
Mentorship Track: Performance
Shining Rae | Mentor | Los Angeles Chapter
Sierra Leveque | Mentee | Los Angeles Chapter
GRAMMY U member Sierra Leveque is an aspiring rock recording artist and songwriter who was paired with established independent artist, Shining Rae. Leveque was invited to write in a studio session with her mentor and another young singer/songwriter. As Shining Rae worked on recording vocals, editing song lyrics, and producing an initial mix, Sierra asked questions and admired how she successfully balanced these various roles.
"From session work and studio collaborations to writing for other artists and producing, my mentor opened my eyes to all the ways I can thrive creatively and professionally," Leveque, a first-time mentee said. "Thanks to my mentor, I’ve become more confident in networking, more appreciative of the full scope of songwriting work, and more open-minded when exploring new opportunities in the music industry."
Shining Rae has mentored many GRAMMY U members and noted that she always tries "to create unique opportunities for my mentees that will give them a preview of what their professional careers will look like while also giving them a chance to put into action all the things we discussed throughout this experience."
Sierra’s recent live show was a culmination of the pair’s mentorship discussions including how to book shows, market your artistry, and perform at the highest level. "She was the main solo act who kept the crowd engaged the entire set and rocked the house!" Shining Rae reflected. "Sierra is a true rock star, and I have watched her bring out the inner rock music lover in people who usually don't listen to rock music at all. That's a good sign she is well on her way to making a huge impact on music culture."
Mentorship Track: Producing & Engineering
Liv Lombardi | Mentor | Nashville Chapter
Charlie Smith | Mentee | Nashville Chapter
MTSU graduate and GRAMMY U mentee Charlie Smith works full-time as music licensing representative, but his true dream is to become an artist, producer, or A&R coordinator who can help artists develop their sound and bring their vision to life. His conversations with Liv Lombardi, Technical Director at Nashville Public Radio and a freelance mix engineer, have brought him closer to this goal.
"Over coffee, Liv broke down the producer's role in record-making, showing how flexible and personal the process can be," Smith said. "It was empowering to learn there’s no one right way to make a record and that producers of all kinds can thrive, building sustainable careers."
Lombardi continues to help Charlie sharpen his audio engineering skills and even brought him along to shadow her. "Observing while Liv engineered a live radio broadcast with Nashville's mayor was so cool — it showcased live production in a very unique setting."
Lombardi chose to bring Smith into the station to showcase how she creates "some sustainability and stability in my life — financially, mentally, and emotionally." While that work has allowed Lombardi to develop skills that apply to other musical projects, "I thought it would be meaningful for him to see that everyone has to find ways to make a living, and there is still time to invest in passion projects and other creative work outside of a 9-5."
Mentorship Track: Songwriting & Composing
Ty Scott King | Mentor | Florida Chapter
Patience Murray | Mentee | Florida Chapter
Songwriters Ty Scott King and Patience Murray aimed to collaborate on a song during this mentorship period. The pair spent time revising aspiring writer Murray’s song ideas, focusing not just on the lyrics but the heart and intention behind them.
When Murray shared a draft of her original song "Pen Cry," Scott King knew it was the one. "It carried a message that resonated with our personal experiences and the kinds of conversations we’d been having throughout the mentorship program. It felt authentic to who we are as artists and as women navigating life and faith," Scott King said.
For Murray, the most special moment was meeting Scott King in person at the 2025 GRAMMYs, where a spoken word collaboration Scott King worked on earned a nomination. Watching her navigate the room with confidence and grace was inspiring: "Ty reminds me that there is room for every artist to share their story, their truth, their art," Murray said. "Through her support and encouragement, she affirmed that my voice, my perspective, and my story are valuable."
Of her mentee, Scott King said: "Patience is learning to trust her vocal instincts, take creative risks, and embrace the uniqueness of her voice and style. Beyond the technical growth, she’s gaining clarity about how she wants to show up in this industry, what she wants listeners to take away from her work, and how her faith influences her art."
Mentorship Track: Marketing, Partnerships & Communications
Trey Hicks | Mentor | Texas Chapter
Mykel Merritt | Mentee | Texas Chapter
Trey Hicks, Founder and Senior Publicist at Painting Pictures, supported UT Austin student Mykel Merritt through a tough internship search this spring.
“When we first met, he was understandably overwhelmed by the pressure of finding a paid opportunity in a competitive industry," Hicks said, adding that the two worked closely to identify opportunities in Austin — especially with venues, festivals and concert promoters — where Merritt could apply his social media skills and passion for live music. Hicks also tapped into his network to connect his mentee with industry professionals.
"Within just a few weeks, he turned that anxiety into action — securing multiple internships that will provide valuable hands-on experience, financial support, and a clearer path forward," Hicks said. Of his experience, Merritt said: “I’ve learned how to be more present, less stressed, and more intentional — both personally and professionally. Trey reminded me to trust the timing of opportunities and always be prepared because what’s meant for you will align when the time is right.”
Merritt’s favorite experience was working at Dreamville Festival under the public relations team, where he managed media credentials, photo access, and other on-site tasks. “Being part of a festival I had dreamed of working at for over a year was a full-circle moment. Trey made that opportunity possible, and it was incredibly rewarding to showcase my skills on such a major festival."
Hicks noted that he didn't have direct connections in the industry, and instead "had to rely heavily on cold networking, persistence, and long nights. It was a grind — but those early challenges made me appreciate the importance of mentorship, and they’re a big part of why I wanted to pay it forward through this program.”
Mentorship Leaves A Lasting Impact
Autumn Rowe | Mentor | Los Angeles Chapter
Mira Housey | Mentee | Los Angeles Chapter
The music business is all about creating authentic and long-lasting relationships. After meeting through the GRAMMY U Mentorship Program three years ago, GRAMMY-winning songwriter Autumn Rowe has continued to be a role model for Mira Housey. Autumn — who is known for songwriting work with Dua Lipa, Kali Uchis, Tori Kelly, and others — recently signed her mentee to Honest Songs Music and Lyrics, her joint venture with Spirit Music Group.
"The day I met Autumn, I played her a demo I believed was some of my best production work at the time. She told me I needed to think bigger and take more risks in my production," Housey said. "From that day forward, her voice was stuck in my head, and ever since I have approached producing with a totally different and unrestricted mindset. It challenged me in the best way."
Rowe said Housey is hardly the same person she first met, noting that her mentee has grown exponentially. "She is a triple threat. I feel confident she can handle whatever is thrown at her," Rowe added. "Now when I hear a ‘Mira Song,’ I can tell just from listening. She is crafting her own signature sound."
Carving a path as a producer, writer, and artist all at once was initially challenging for Housey. "Autumn was the first person who never asked me to pick a lane. Instead, she pushed me to embrace the fact that my strength is in doing all three." Mira Housey has been traveling the world sharing her talents and is now a voting member of the Recording Academy.
"Being part of the GRAMMY U mentorship program was a game-changer for me," Housey said. "My experience with Autumn gave me a firsthand look at how deeply the Recording Academy is invested in nurturing the next generation of music creators. I knew I wanted to be part of an institution that not only celebrates excellence but also actively uplifts and advocates for artists at every stage of their journey."
Interested in Getting Involved?
Applications for the 2025-26 mentorship program will open in October 2025 - mentees must be GRAMMY U members to be eligible participants. Please visit GRAMMY U to apply for membership and qualify for this incredible program. Follow GRAMMY U at @grammyu on Instagram and TikTok to hear more mentorship stories and receive more updates on next year’s mentorship program.