Pianist, composer, and music therapy advocate Dalida Arakelian performed a selection of her works and discussed her creative process during a recent gathering at the Music Academy of the West, hosted by the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.

The event was the first in a new program series titled From Gift to Greatness, intended to showcase the talents and achievements of former foundation recipients.

“Dalida’s emotionally resonant performance and insightful comments afterward offered a deeply powerful demonstration of the enduring impact of foundation scholarships,” said Melinda Cabrera, Scholarship Foundation president/CEO. “We want to show our community that the Scholarship Foundation’s work is about more than college degrees.

“It’s about transforming lives and providing individuals with opportunities to develop their innate talents. I can’t think of a better person to inaugurate our From Gift to Greatness initiative.”

Arakelian received support from the Scholarship Foundation throughout her undergraduate studies at UCLA. An accomplished concert pianist, she has blazed a distinctive artistic path exploring the connection between music and emotional wellbeing, the foundation said.

Arakelian founded and served as program director of Mindful Music at UCLA, where she produced programming alongside world-renowned neuroscience researchers, physicians, and thought leaders. She has conducted research on the salutary effects of music on stress levels, and presented a TEDx talk on the subject in 2016.

Arakelian frequently provides music wellness consulting to individuals, small groups, and organizations. Her original music is distributed on major streaming sites.

The nonprofit Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is the nation’s largest community-based provider of college scholarships. The organization also provides free financial aid advising services. For more, visit www.sbscholarship.org.