PITTSBURGH, July 23, 2008 — The Pittsburgh Jazz Society and BNY Mellon today announced the selection of Gerald Homme as the recipient of the 2008 Pittsburgh Jazz Society / BNY Mellon Jazz Scholarship. Homme will receive his scholarship award on air during WDUQ 90.5's broadcast of "Jazz with Tony Mowod" on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 8 p.m.

Chosen by a panel of nationally recognized jazz musicians and educators on the basis of his scholarship application and accompanying audition tape, Homme will receive a $5,000 award from the Pittsburgh Jazz Society and BNY Mellon.

The son of James and Clara Homme of Crafton Heights, Gerald will attend Duquesne University as a freshman beginning in August. Homme plays both the clarinet and saxophone and composes music. Gerald's talent is also noteworthy given that he has dysgraphia, a learning disability which impairs one's ability to express thoughts in writing. A 2008 graduate of the Pittsburgh Public School System's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), Homme works for Bender Consulting Services, an organization that helps people with disabilities find jobs. He was a member of the North Suburban Symphonic Band and also has performed with the Roger Humphries Big Band. Along with his CAPA classmates, Homme reenacted the mystique and magic of Pittsburgh's famed Crawford Grille for attendees of the 2007 Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show.

"Gerald Homme is a young, talented jazz musician whom we are proud to reward for his dedication and achievement," said James P. McDonald, president, BNY Mellon Charitable Foundation. "We are delighted to partner with the Pittsburgh Jazz Society to support this scholarship which cultivates and develops the next generation of great jazz performers and composers."

"Our judges selected Gerald, an excellent scholarship candidate, from a large pool of qualified applicants," said Tony Mowod, founder and president of the Pittsburgh Jazz Society and executive producer and jazz host of WDUQ 90.5 FM. "Together with The Bank of New York Mellon, we will continue to help exceptionally talented local young people succeed and continue the tradition of jazz music."

A non-profit 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization, The Pittsburgh Jazz Society is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and perpetuation of all jazz through education, performance, partnering and community outreach for members and the general public. Please visit www.pittsburghjazz.com to become a member or to learn more about the Pittsburgh Jazz Society.

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets. The company is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $23 trillion in assets under custody and administration, more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management and services more than $11 trillion in outstanding debt. Additional information is available at www.bnymellon.com.