Jim and Jamie Self establish MSU tuba scholarship

The MSU Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Jim and Jamie Self Tuba Scholarship Endowment.

This fund was created through the generosity of Jim Self in October 2024 to honor the service of notable and dedicated MSU faculty Dr. Stacy Baker, professor of music, and the late Professor Emeritus of Music, Dr. Earle Louder. The scholarship fund recognizes Baker and Louder's commitment to music education.

Recipients may be undergraduate or graduate students majoring in music or music education, with a preference for students who play tuba as their primary instrument.

Originally from Los Angeles, Jim Self has built an extensive career in the music industry. He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the business, with a remarkable body of work spanning thousands of films, TV shows and records. He has worked with composers like John Williams, James Horner and John Debney. In addition, Jim has recorded with famous musicians like Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand.

As a principal tuba and cimbasso player, Jim holds prominent positions with the Pacific and Pasadena Symphonies, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra. He also composes and has served as an adjunct tuba and chamber music professor at Southern California's Thornton School of Music.

Jamie Self, a California native, has a diverse background as well. Having traveled to Cairo, Egypt, where she administered the Fulbright Program, Jamie established a grand history. She later retired from the personnel office for the chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles. Jamie has played in various Los Angeles orchestras as a violinist, and she loves traveling and supporting her husband Jim's many projects.

"Music has been such a huge part of our lives," Jim said. "Jamie and I are thrilled to be able to support scholarships for future musicians. We are also honored to have the opportunity to recognize fellow musicians and educators who do so much to enhance the lives of others."

For more information on this scholarship or to create your own, contact MSU's Office of Alumni Relations & Development by calling 606-783-2033 or emailing giving@moreheadstate.edu.

To learn more about MSU's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, contact mtd@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2473.