Rock 'n' roll Hall of Famer launches Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship, surprise performance at Band-O-Rama with Michigan Marching Band
Grammy-winning Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith returned to his Michigan roots this weekend to announce a new partnership between the Chad Smith Foundation and the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
The collaboration marks the launch of the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship, named in honor of Smith's parents. The scholarship will provide need-based support for an incoming music student beginning in 2026.
The announcement came during U-M's annual Band-O-Rama event on Nov. 2, where Smith made a surprise appearance and performed the RHCP hit "Can't Stop" and U-M fight song "The Victors" alongside the Michigan Marching Band in the sold-out 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 for nurturing his love of music and supporting his dream to pursue it professionally. Raising their children in Michigan, they instilled in Smith the values of education, community and creativity that continue to inspire his work today.
"Michigan is where it all started for me," Smith said. "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 Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship will support incoming freshmen to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance undergraduate program who demonstrate financial need and a strong commitment to pursuing a career in music. The scholarship reinforces the Chad Smith Foundation'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," said David Gier, SMTD dean and the Paul Boylan Collegiate Professor of Music. "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."
