Three university students — a flutist, a vocalist and a percussionist — immersed themselves in instrument demos, music tech, education, and live bands at The 2025 NAMM Show, all because they dared to share why they aspire to careers in the music industry.
Margo Neth, Clayton Gaskamp and La’akea Garcia applied to the Lamond GenNext Award program and received the exciting news that they’d be part of the 2025 pool of nearly 150 scholarship recipients. A key program provided by The NAMM Foundation, the GenNext scholarship provides student winners with a stipend to attend The NAMM Show so they can network among the music industry’s pros, see the latest in music products and technology, and begin to meld their academic lives with their future careers. Read what Neth, Gaskamp and Garcia had to say about their experiences during the show.
Margo Neth
“[The scholarship] really helps if you are a student, so you can achieve your dream.”
University
SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music
Major
Music business with a concentration in flute performance
Instrument
Flute
How did you first get involved in music?
My flute professor, who I stuck with until college, showed us different instruments, and that’s how my classical music journey started. My parents aren’t involved with music, per se, but they had the radio on all the time, and that kind of sparked my interest too.
What got you thinking about a career in the music industry?
My interest in the music industry started in high school because we had an entertainment industries club, so working with Pro Tools and recording made me think, oh, there’s another side to this that’s more than just performance. And, they have a music business degree at my college. That’s when I really knew that’s the avenue, because I love the supporting role of helping artists and seeing people’s dreams come to fruition.
Have you been thinking about any specific career paths?
I’ve been interested in two avenues. If I go down the more classical route, I’d love to work for a flute company or in orchestral management. Flute manufacturing, instrument repair, that’s something I’m interested in. If I go down the non-classical route, I’d love to do some type of tour management or live sound setup, because I’ve had experience with that since at my school we host our own music festival every year.
How did you learn about the Lamond GenNext scholarship?
Dr. Yip, our music business adjunct, sent out an email about the Lamond GenNext scholarship. Looking into it, I was like, this is something I would really love to be a part of. Everything and anything you want to know about the industry is here [at The NAMM Show] and you can learn from so many people. We all come from different paths, but we all have that same passion and interest.
What have you explored at The NAMM Show?
I’ve been on the exhibit floor, interning with Zoom North America, and there are other interns from my school, so I’ve been visiting them and their booths. I connected with a flute distributor.
And for sessions, I went to a networking event. I got to speak to other students and people who are in the same boat as me. These are the people that I could be working with in the future. It was really cool to meet them and manufacturers and even some of the people on the NAMM board.
Would you recommend the Lamond GenNext scholarship and attending The NAMM Show to other students?
100% yes. I really advocate for people to look into the scholarship and just look on the website to see all that is offered. Because it really helps if you are a student, so you can achieve your dream. NAMM is the perfect place to be. They have any company, performances, just any part you’re interested in, the educational side … you’re going to learn so much and everyone’s here.
Back to your instrument of choice, the flute — what’s your inspiration for playing it?
I feel like I’m able to be myself. I can express myself in a way that I could never with words. It’s the emotion that draws me to music and the flute. It’s really special.
Clayton Gaskamp
“I was very happy and excited [to win the scholarship]. I wanted to make the most of the opportunity.”
University
University of North Texas
Degree
MBA in music business
Instrument
Drum set, guitar and bass
How did you first get involved in music?
I've been playing locally in bands since I was 17. I started as an orchestral player as a kid and then transitioned to percussionist in high school and learned how to play drum set, guitar and bass. I joined bands and made music with friends. Then I decided I wanted to add on to my undergrad business degree, learn more and specialize in music.
What do you enjoy playing?
It depends on whatever I'm listening to, or if I have a gig coming up. Lately, I try to learn songs — old emo music like Title Fight, Sunny Day Real Estate, Ween. I like a lot of the New York indie music that came out in the 2000s. I play a TAMA [drum set], a STRAT, so that's a Fender, and I have a Charvel San Dimas bass.
What are your career interests in the music industry?
I’m interested in working in administration with drum manufacturers or drum companies. I would love to do something like that. I like licensing, publishing, doing something with BMI or ASCAP. I’m shooting a lot of arrows and seeing where they land, and then just following whatever opportunities I get.
What do you feel is a challenge of transitioning between college and the workforce?
Standing out or getting an opportunity with less experience, it seems a little daunting. But coming here [to The NAMM Show] and talking to professionals seems like the best way to get over that. Just be bold and make as many connections as you can and be nice.
How did you learn about the Lamond GenNEXT scholarship?
Jessica Muñiz-Collado, my departmental professor at UNT, told students about it and encouraged everybody to apply.
How did you feel when you won?
I was just shocked. I didn't think I would get it, honestly. I was very happy and excited. I wanted to make the most of the opportunity.
What is your favorite part about The NAMM Show experience?
My favorite thing is just meeting everybody, talking to new people and getting advice from pros. The show floor is unbelievable, with how much stuff there is to look at and sample. I've been sampling guitars and drum sets. All of it is really cool.
La’akea Garcia
“Coming back again on the scholarship, it just makes me feel like I have a lot more gratitude so I can appreciate a lot more.”
University
University of Hawai'i, West O'ahu
Major
General creative media
Instrument
Voice
How did you first get involved in music?
I've always had an interest in listening to music and singing music. I took chorus and choir for pretty much all of middle school, high school and even in college. I originally started at Honolulu Community College in the MELE program, the Music & Entertainment Learning Experience program. I got my associate’s in music business, and then I transferred over to West O’ahu for creative media.
What do you enjoy singing?
I grew up on a lot of different genres, but I find myself singing a lot of K-pop songs, country songs, R&B and pop.
What are your career interests in the music industry?
I would love to be a tour manager. For one of our classes, we put together a concert event, and I absolutely love that. And I love artist managing and tour managing, anything behind the scenes. That's my main goal.
What do you feel is a challenge of transitioning between college and the workforce?
The fear that I have is not being able to push myself further enough to be able to talk to people, like, hey, I see that this is your job. I'd love to know more about it. Being at The NAMM Show has helped me open up and talk to professionals, especially because for the scholarship, we have mandatory events where networking is required, so it helps me take that step.
How did you feel when you won the GenNext scholarship?
I was elated. My first year [at the show], I was so overwhelmed. So, coming back again on the scholarship, it just makes me feel like I have a lot more gratitude so I can appreciate a lot more. When I got the email, I was like, oh my god!
What have you checked out at the show?
I love the panels and hearing people talk about their experiences within their jobs, stuff they've gone through, how they've gotten there, what their challenges were. It's fascinating to me to see how similar yet different all of their journeys are. Their advice is just don't give up and keep persevering.
In the first talk that was required of us, we did an exercise where the speaker made us stand up on 1,2, 3. On the third one, or on the second one, he would wait. And we were all waiting to stand up again. We just felt that energy, I could feel it within me. He said, save that energy, that's the energy that you need to get through your career. And I was like, yes, I get it. I was so motivated. I love all the talks that NAMM has to offer. That's been my favorite part.
See a full list of our 2025 Lamond GenNext Scholarship Awardees.
Help More Students Pursue Their Musical Dreams
If you enjoyed reading about how Neth, Gaskamp and Garcia benefited from the Lamond GenNext scholarship program, consider supporting The NAMM Foundation’s scholarship programs with a donation, or your can learn more about our global grantmaking efforts. For more scholarship information, please sign up to receive our newsletter or email us at info@nammfoundation.