Arlen Borrego Miranda Awarded 2025 Prodigy Scholarship by Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation

The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation awarded its 2025 Prodigy Scholarship—sponsored this year by Warner Music Latina and officially titled the 2025 Warner Music Latina Scholarship—to Cuban trumpeter Arlen Borrego Miranda during a special ceremony on August 13 in Miami. The ceremony was hosted by 2022 Prodigy Scholarship recipient Valentina Garcia and featured a performance by Latin Grammy– and Grammy-nominated artist Elena Rose alongside scholarship recipients and alumni. The musical director for the evening was Latin Grammy– and Grammy-winning producer, composer and conductor Carlos Fernando López. In addition to Borrego Miranda’s award, 48 more scholarships were presented to music students around the world.

Also known as the Prodigy Scholarship, the annual award supports music education and Latin music genres. This year marked the first time the scholarship was sponsored by a record label. The award will allow Borrego Miranda to pursue a bachelor's degree at Berklee College of Music starting this fall, covering tuition, room, board, and wraparound services, such as ongoing mentorship and learning opportunities in partnership with the foundation. For her first year, Borrego Miranda is studying abroad at the Berklee campus in Valencia, Spain.

Previous sponsors include: Sebastián Yatra (2024), Nicky Jam (2023), Sofia Carson (2022), Juanes (2021), Julio Iglesias (2020), Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2019), Carlos Vives (2018), Miguel Bosé (2017), Juan Luis Guerra (2016), and Enrique Iglesias (2015).

Since its establishment in 2014, the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation has committed more than $13.9 million in scholarships, grants, musical instruments, and educational programs throughout the US and Ibero-America. 

“Each year we have the privilege and responsibility of reviewing and awarding scholarships made possible by the generosity of our donors,” said Raquel "Rocky" Egusquiza, executive director, Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation. “We are moved by the talented students and grateful to our partners who have enabled us to provide more than $1.3 million across 49 scholarships to music students worldwide, ensuring the rich legacy of Latin music.”

“At Warner Music Latina, we believe in the power of education as a catalyst for creativity and cultural preservation,” said Roberto Andrade, managing director at Warner Music Latina. “Partnering with the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation to sponsor the Prodigy Scholarship reflects our long-term commitment to nurturing the next generation of Latin music talent. We’re proud to help Arlen take this next step and are honored to support the future of our music.”

“Music has saved my life. Finding this path from a young age and having the opportunity to pursue this dream, thanks to the support of Warner Music Latina and the incredible Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, exceeds everything I ever imagined,” said Borrego Miranda. “I am committed to making the most of this incredible gift by working hard and making everyone proud. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The foundation also presented the first Emerging Talent Scholarship, in partnership with Berklee College of Music, to saxophonist Aina López Pla. This award covers a bachelor’s degree at Berklee, room and board, a laptop, and ongoing mentorship and learning opportunities in collaboration with the foundation.

Two Gifted Tuition Scholarships of up to $120,000 each were awarded to students to cover tuition and wraparound services toward a four-year bachelor's degree in music. The Gil Family Foundation awarded one of these scholarships to drummer Miguel Francisco Pie Gil, who will attend Berklee.

In addition, 45 students received the Tuition Assistance Scholarship—a one-time award ranging from $10,000 to $12,500 toward tuition costs for the university or college of their choice, plus wraparound services. For the second consecutive year, Gibson Gives, Gibson’s philanthropic division, sponsored three of these scholarships—awarded to guitar students—and gifted a Gibson guitar to each recipient. 

Other scholarship sponsors included AIE Sociedad de Artistas, Amazon Music, Bulova, Kraft Family Inc., and the Open Society Foundations. 

The 14 Berklee-bound scholarship recipients are:

• Carla Chiang, piano 
• Marc Serra Bofill, guitar
• Joshua Diaz, hand percussion
• Yandy Garcia Palacio, drum set
• Laia Martínez Gelabert, bass
• Maria Medina, piano
• Pia Ella Odar Ruiz, bass
• Guillermo Wan, bass
• Pedro Menegatti Secco, guitar
• Hector Moreno, piano
• Natasha Vázquez Ramírez, voice/music production
• Juan Diego Panadero Achury, clarinet
• Diego Herrera, saxophone
• Ludwig Izaguirre, bass

About the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation

The Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by the Latin Recording Academy with the vision of becoming a global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024, the foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary, and over the past decade it has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, educational programs, and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the foundation has donated more than $13.9 million with the support of the Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors, and other generous donors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.