Grammy Award–winning drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers returned to his home state of Michigan this past weekend to announce a meaningful new collaboration with the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
Through his nonprofit, the Chad Smith Foundation, Smith is launching the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship, named in honor of his parents. Beginning in 2026, the scholarship will offer need-based financial assistance to incoming music students who demonstrate both talent and dedication to a career in the arts.
The announcement took place at U-M’s annual Band-O-Rama concert on November 2 at Hill Auditorium, where Smith surprised the sold-out crowd by joining the Michigan Marching Band on stage. He performed the Red Hot Chili Peppers hit “Can’t Stop,” followed by “The Victors,” the university’s iconic fight song.
Smith got his start playing in Detroit’s club scene before rising to international fame with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He credits his parents, Curtis and Joan, for nurturing his passion for music and encouraging his artistic pursuits from an early age.
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“Michigan is where it all started for me,” Smith said in a press release. “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 the same chance I had—to chase their dream and make it real.”
The partnership reflects the broader mission of the Chad Smith Foundation: to expand access to high-quality music education and open doors for aspiring artists across the country.
“The University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance is honored to partner with the Chad Smith Foundation in creating this scholarship,” said David Gier, SMTD dean and the Paul Boylan Collegiate Professor of Music, in a press release. “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.”
