Tega Ethan from Nigeria and Taylor Zickfoose from Washington state are the inaugural recipients of the Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowships.

Ethan, a pop artist, and Zickfoose, a jazz-influenced singer-songwriter studying at the University of Kansas, were selected by Universal Music Publishing Group executives, the Dylan Center and a panel of artists that included Patty Griffin, John Mellencamp and Nas.

“Songwriters trying to make a go of it in the modern music business need the kind of encouragement and support that this fellowship provides,” Mellencamp said. “I congratulate Tega and Taylor on being the first two recipients, and hope they write some great songs during their time in Tulsa.”

Each fellowship encompasses a $40k project stipend, public engagement and presentation opportunities, dedicated time in BDC’s Bob Dylan Archive to study Dylan’s creative process, roundtrip airfare to Tulsa and accommodations in the city, mentorship from UMPG songwriters and executives, and recording time in Tulsa’s historic The Church Studio, the famous studio of Leon Russell.

The center hopes more songwriters will want to walk into a room with a pencil in their hand and will open the application window for the 2025-2026 fellowship in the fall.