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Chad Smith Foundation Launches Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship at University of Michigan

Grammy-winning Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer surprises fans with performance at Band-O-Rama event in Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, MI [November 3, 2025] — Grammy-winning Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith returned to his Michigan roots this past weekend to announce a new partnership between the Chad Smith Foundation (CSF) and the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD). The collaboration marks the launch of the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship, named in honor of Smith's parents. This scholarship will provide need-based support for an incoming SMTD student beginning in 2026.

The announcement came during U-M's annual Band-O-Rama event on Nov. 2, where Chad made a surprise appearance and performed RHCP hit "Can't Stop" alongside the Michigan Marching Band in Hill Auditorium.

Born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Smith attended Lahser High School and began his professional music career playing in clubs and bars across Detroit. He credits his parents, Curtis and Joan Smith, for nurturing his love of music and supporting his dream to pursue it professionally. Both lifelong Michiganders, they instilled in Chad the values of education, community, and creativity that continue to inspire his work today.

"Michigan is where it all started for me. It's where I learned to play, where I fell in love with music, and where my parents supported me every step of the way. To partner with the University of Michigan and honor them through this scholarship feels like coming home. This is about giving young musicians from Michigan the same chance I had—to chase their dream and make it real."

The Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship will support undergraduate students entering the School of Music, Theatre & Dance who demonstrate financial need and a strong commitment to pursuing a career in music. The scholarship reinforces CSF's mission to expand access to high-quality music education and career pathways for aspiring musicians nationwide.

"The University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance is honored to partner with the Chad Smith Foundation in creating this scholarship. Chad's generosity and his dedication to supporting the next generation of artists exemplify the very best of what it means to be a Michigan musician. We are excited to award the first recipient of the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship in fall 2026."

For more information on the partnership and ways to support the scholarship, please visit the Chad Smith Foundation's website at chadsmithfoundation.org.