Music gave Matt everything — a voice, a stage, a band, a family beyond his family. And he gave it back: for years he taught music to kids, ran lessons and summer camps and recitals, and made his students believe they could play.

The Matt Johnson Music Scholarship is awarded each year to graduating Harris County High School seniors and former HCHS students — anyone with a real commitment to music education or to continuing their own musical path. Applicants submit a recording of themselves playing and two short essays, and Matt's family, friends and former bandmates read and listen to every one.

It's a program of the Matt Johnson Music Foundation Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) run by Matt's family, so every donation is tax-deductible and goes to students. His parents, Tommy and Phyllis Johnson, steward it alongside his brother Adam, his sister Julie White and brother-in-law Danny White.

Matt died on September 1, 2016. Ten years to the day, the band he started — The Dirty Souls — released seven songs they recorded together. Every dollar that record makes comes here. Hear it at thedirtysouls.com.

Every gift goes to a student who loves music the way Matt did.

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The Matt Johnson Music Scholarship

A scholarship for the student who can't imagine life without music.

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