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When it comes to scholarships for music majors, a sage quote, “Science makes life possible but the arts make it worthwhile” is well taken. Indeed, it is far wiser than even the original adviser most likely believed. Business, finance, high-tech and learned professions like law and medicine are highly touted for monetary success; however, music and the arts provide intrinsic reward that is just as valuable.
Aspiring musicians with high potential but low budgets frequently worry about getting formal instruction to fine-tune their great talent. Fortunately, remedies exist in the 25 college scholarships for music majors listed below.
1. Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation Fine Arts Grant
DEADLINE: May 30
Established by the Georgia City Council and Alpha Delta Kappa Savannah chapter in the 1980s, this is a one-time award of $1,500 made to outstanding Georgia scholars in every calendar year that ends in an odd number.
Applicants must have/be:
• A resident of Georgia
• An undergraduate junior or senior or a graduate student
• Preparing for a career in music education
Contact
Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation Fine Arts Grant
Mrs. Edith Padgett
3 Cardiff Road
Savannah, Georgia 31419
Email: bpgodawgs@comcast.net
Apply and learn more at http://www.alphadeltakappa.org/s/1292/index.aspx?sid=1292&gid=1&pgid=1089.
2. Associated Male Choruses of America, or AMCA Scholarship
DEADLINE: March 1
During the upcoming academic year following date of this writing, AMCA promises to award several scholarships for music majors of $1,000 to $1,200 each.
Applicants must have/be:
• Enrolled in an undergraduate music program during each academic year of award
• Sponsored by an AMCA member chorus
While vocal music majors are preferred, instrumental music students are also eligible and encouraged to apply.
Associated Male Choruses of America Scholarship
Weldon Wilson, Chairman
Phone: 320-260-1081
Email: scholarships@amcofa-sing.org
3. Augustana College Pro Musica Scholarships
DEADLINE: February 1
The Music Department at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD makes annual four-year renewable awards in amounts that range between $1,000 and $5,000 to students with high musical potential, as exhibited by audition.
Applicants must have/be:
• Be admitted to Augustana College by February 1
• Audition before Music Department Faculty Selection Committee members in person, via Skype or a VHS or DVD submission
• Remain enrolled as an Augustana College music major throughout entire four-year award period
• Mozart and Bach Scholarship recipients must take private lessons during first two years of enrollment at Augustana College
Contact
Augustana College Pro Musica Scholarships
Performing and Visual Arts Department
Augustana College
2001 S. Summit Ave.
Sioux Falls, SD 57197
Apply at http://www.augie.edu/arts/scholarships-arts/details/performing-visual-arts-scholarship-application.
4. Bemidji State Music Scholarships
DEADLINE: March 1
Bemidji State University Department of Music in Bemidji, MN awards a wide range of scholarships for music students that range from $500 to full tuition.
Applicants must have/be:
• New or returning students at Bemidji State University
• Perform a musical audition either on campus or via Skype
• A minimum 3.0 grade point average, or GPA
• May be music or non-music major during all academic year(s) of award
Contact
Bemidji State Music Scholarships
Laura Holm, Office Manager
Department of Music
1500 Birchmont Drive NE, #16
Bangsberg 201
Bemidji, MN 56601
Phone: (218) 755-2915
5. Berklee Lollapaloza Endowed Scholarship
DEADLINE: Contact sponsor
Berklee College of Music makes a four-year renewable full-tuition music scholarship to an outstanding aspiring musician with financial need.
Applicants must have/be:
• A native U.S. resident
• Demonstrate financial need
• Apply for admission to Berklee
• Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA
• Complete an audition and interview at a Berklee campus
Contact
Berklee Lollapaloza Endowed Scholarship
Tod Oliviere, Director of Scholarships
Room 622
921 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617 747 8681
Email: scholarships@berklee.edu
6. Catharine Gould Chism Scholarship
DEADLINE: Contact institutional administrator
Puget Sound University incoming freshmen with demonstrated excellence in any area of fine arts and the humanities may receive four-year renewable annual scholarships for music of $5,000.
Applicants must have/be:
• Major in art, English, foreign language, history, music, philosophy, theatre arts or religion
• Enrolled in at least 3 units per academic semester of award
• Actively participate as a university performing group musician or accompanist during all academic year(s) of award
Contact
Catharine Gould Chism Scholarship
Puget Sound University
Student Financial Services
1500 N. Warner St.
CMB 1039
Tacoma, WA 98416
Phone: 800-396-7192 or 253-879-3214
Email: sfs@pugetsound.edu
7. CBC Spouses Heineken USA Performing Arts Scholarship
DEADLINE: May 1
Established in 2000 by Heineken USA and the Congressional Black Caucus to honor late musical legend Curtis Mayfield, this scholarship makes annual awards of $3,000 to help aspiring performing artists achieve their academic agendas.
Applicants must have/be:
• A citizen or permanent legal resident of the U.S.
• Preparing to or currently enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate degree program
• A minimum 2.5 GPA
• Demonstrated talent in performing arts
• Exhibit leadership and community service involvement
• Intend a future career in performing arts
Contact
CBC Spouses Heineken USA Performing Arts Scholarship
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.
1720 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-263-2800
Email: scholarships@cbcfinc.org
Apply at https://cbcfinc.academicworks.com/opportunities/185.
8. Chopin Foundation of the United States Scholarship Program for Young Pianists
DEADLINE: April 15
These music scholarships award talented, young U.S. pianists who perform exceptionally well in the sponsor’s American Piano Competition in Miami, FL, every five years. Besides substantial cash prizes, top ten finalists receive $1,000 renewable scholarships and paid entry into the prestigious International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Poland.
Chopin Foundation Young Pianist competent entrants must have/be:
• Demonstrated special affinity for the interpretation of Frédéric Chopin’s music
• U.S. citizenship or legal residency
• Between 14 and 17 years old by April 15 in calendar year of initial application
Contact
Chopin Foundation of the United States Scholarship Program for Young Pianists
Chopin Foundation of the United States, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Committee
1440 79th Street Causeway, Suite 117
Miami, FL 33141
Phone: (305) 868-0624
Email: info@chopin.org
9. Christine K. Stevens, MT-BC Professional Development Scholarship
DEADLINE: February 1 – nomination
March 1 – application
Established by Remo, Inc., American Music Therapy Association, or AMTA, awards full-tuition scholarships for music for advanced percussion training by HealthyRHYTHMS Group.
Applicants must have/be:
• An undergraduate or graduate student in an AMTA-approved educational institution
• Nominated by self or an institutional faculty member
• An AMTA Student Member on both dates of nomination and award acceptance
Contact
Christine K. Stevens, MT-BC Professional Development Scholarship
American Music Therapy Association
8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1000
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-589-3300
10. Hope College Distinguished Artist, or DAA Awards
DEADLINE: February 15 for guaranteed consideration
As America’s only liberal arts college that is regionally accredited in art, music, theater and dance, Hope College of Holland, MI makes 60 four-year renewable DAAs of $2,500 annually.
Applicants must have/be:
• An outstanding academic record
• Demonstrate exceptional creative music ability
• Perform a 10-minute voice or instrumental audition
Contact
Hope College Distinguished Artist Awards
Kathy Waterstone, Administrative Assistant
Department of Music
PO Box 9000
Holland, MI 49422
Phone: 616-395-7650
Email: waterstone@hope.edu
11. Ellis Competition for Duo-Pianists
DEADLINE: October 10, even numbered years
Sponsored by the National Federation of Music Clubs, or NFMC, this biannual competition pays first and second-place prizes of $15,000 and $4,000 to respective winning teams.
Applicants must have/be:
• Between 18 and 39 years old by March 27, 2015
• Pay an entry fee of $50 per team
Contact
Ellis Competition for Duo-Pianists
Mrs. Francis Christmann, Chairperson
4409 14th Street
Lubbock, TX 79416
Email: francis.christmann@yahoo.com
12. Appalachian State Elmer & Lynn White Scholarship
DEADLINE: Contact institution
Named after the married alumni who founded it, this scholarship makes a three-year renewable award of $3,000 annually to an incoming freshman at Appalachian State University, or APU in Boone, NC.
Applicants must have/be:
• Enrolled in the Hayes School of Music at APU
• Exhibit outstanding talent in wind instrument performance
• Maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA for all academic semesters of award
Contact
Appalachian State Elmer & Lynn White Scholarship
Dr. Jay Jackson, Associate Dean
Hayes School of Music
Broyhill Music Center, Room 111
813 Rivers Street
Boone, NC 28608
Phone: 828-262-3020
Email: jacksnjc@appstate.edu
13. Emil & Ruth Beyer Composition Awards
DEADLINE: March 1
Sponsor NMFC awards several cash prizes of $700 to $4,000 to winning piano solo, vocal, and instrumental music composers.
Entrants must have/be:
• Active membership in an NFMC senior music club, senior organization or as an individual senior special member
• A U.S. citizen
• Between 20 and 31 years old by March 1 of application year
• Submit only one legible, bound composition manuscript and three CDs for each desired competition category
• Prepay a $20 entry fee
Contact
Emil & Ruth Beyer Composition Awards
Stephen Varney, NMFC Chairman
647 N. Delaware
San Mateo, CA 94401
Email: pasdeduo@gmail.com
14. Fran Morgenstern Davis Scholarship
DEADLINE: Varies
Sponsored by leading U.S. performing rights group American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, this fund provides makes varying amounts of annual awards to Manhattan School of Music students.
Applicants must have/be:
• A Manhattan School of Music jazz composition student
• Demonstrate high potential for original creative work production
• Demonstrate financial need
Contact
Fran Morgenstern Davis Scholarship
Manhattan School of Music
Jacqueline Felder, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Phone: 917-493-4462
Email: jfelder@msmnyc.edu
15. Iowa Scholarships for the Arts
DEADLINE: February 3
A division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs division, sponsor Iowa Arts Council awards $1,500 annual SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MUSIC to Iowa high school seniors with exceptional fine arts potential.
Applicants must have/be:
• An Iowa resident
• A graduating senior from a high school in Iowa
• Accepted for full-time enrollment in an accredited Iowa educational program that leads to a career in fine arts
• Demonstrate exceptional artistic talent in dance, literary, theater, music, visual or folk or traditional arts
• Submit either a visual, audio/visual or literary depiction of best work in at least one of the above areas
• Major in at least one of the fields listed above
Contact
Iowa Scholarships for the Arts
Veronica O’Hern, Grants & Programs Specialist
Phone: 515-281-3293
Email: veronica.ohern@iowa.gov
16. James A. Hyter Vocal Music Scholarship
DEADLINE: Contact sponsor
Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, or CFGM awards SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MUSIC to aspiring vocal artists in its local service area who historically receive about $3,000 each.
Applicants must have/be:
• A minimum 3.0 GPA
• Live or attend school in Greater Memphis
• Planned or currently enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year educational program
• Demonstrate exemplary vocal talent and musical affinity
• Audition in classic traditional concert repertoire, multicultural folk music and Broadway musical tunes
Contact
James A. Hyter Vocal Music Scholarship
Community Foundation of Greater Memphis
Attention: Vanessa Langston, Scholarships
1900 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 722-0032
Email: vlangston@cfgm.org
17. John Lennon Scholarships
DEADLINE: February 7
Established 17 years ago by famous vocalist Yoko Ono, this memorial scholarship is administered by non-profit BMI Foundation, Inc. to support musical creation, performance, and studies. Scholarships for music totaling $20,000 are awarded annually to the top three songwriter finalists.
Applicants must have/be:
• A U.S. citizen
• An alumnus or current student of a U.S. college or university
• Between 17 and 24 years old as of application deadline
• Submit lyrics and selected instrumentation for just one original song
• Submit separate application(s) for each cowriter
Contact
John Lennon Scholarships
BMI Foundation, Inc.
7 World Trade Center
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
Email: info@bmifoundation.org
18. Ladies of the Podium Scholarship
DEADLINE: December 1
Endowed by Women Band Directors International, or WBDI, this scholarship awards at least $500 to aspiring female band directors annually.
Applicants must have/be:
• Of the female gender
• Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in music education
• Plan to become a band director
Contact
Ladies of the Podium Scholarship
Women Band Directors International
Karen Williams, Scholarship Chairperson
3994 White Oak Road
Waynesville, NC 28785
Email: kwilliams@swainmail.org
19. “Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation, or NSSF
DEADLINE: Contact sponsor
In collaboration with the Orlando Opera, NSSF sponsors the prestigious Grady-Rayam competition that awards tuition assistance of $3,000 to one top finalist of each gender and $2,000 to one runner up of each gender. All contestants who make it to the final round also receive $100.
Entrants must have/be:
• African American
• High school students in the 11th or 12th grade
• Rehearse an NSSF-supplied original piece of music with a vocal instructor prior to competition
Contact
“Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation
P.O. Box 547728
Orlando, FL 32854
Apply at http://www.negrospiritual.org/gradyrayamprize.
20. Lucille Parrish Ward Veterans Award
DEADLINE: March 1
NFMC sponsors this award that provides $2,000 scholarships for music for up to seven former U.S. military personnel wanting to pursue musical careers.
Applicants must have/be:
• A native or naturalized U.S. citizen
• An honorably discharged U.S. service member
• An NFMC individual or group member
Contact
Lucille Parrish Ward Veterans Award
Dr. Ouida Keck, Competitions and Awards Board Chairman
421 Cherry St.
Arkadelphia AR 71923
Email: kecko@obu.edu
21. Pepsi Blue Carpet Bash Latin Scholarship
DEADLINE: September 30
Funded by Pepsi and sponsored by BMI, Inc., this fund awards one $10,000 and two $5,000 music scholarships to top three finalists in the annual Latin Music Competition.
Applicants must have/be:
• Between 21 and 27 years of age
• Enrolled at a Puerto Rican or U.S. college or university
• Submit an original song or instrumental work in a Latin genre
• No prior history of commercial distribution or recording of musical works
Contact
Pepsi Blue Carpet Bash Latin Scholarship
320 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
Email: latinscholarship@bmifoundation.org
22. Presbyterian College Music Scholarships
DEADLINE: February 22
The Presbyterian College Department of Music, awards annual scholarships for music to exceptional performing musician aspirants.
Applicants must have/be:
• Applied to PC for admission before date of audition performance
• Accepted by PC prior to date of award acceptance
• File a FAFSA or promptly advise PC Financial Aid Office of non-intent to file
Contact
Presbyterian College Music Scholarships
Dr. Porter Stokes, Department of Music Chairman
503 South Broad Street
Clinton, SC 29325
Phone: 864-833-8470
Email: music@presby.edu
23. Rislov Foundation Classical Music Grant
DEADLINE: Open
Established by the late classical music professor Sigurd I. Rislov, this foundation awards annual classical music scholarships in varying amounts to worthy would-be classical artistes.
Applicants must have/be:
• Currently attending or prior acceptance by an accredited classical music educational program
• Submit a written resume, career plan, and CD of a brief classical music performance
Contact
Rislov Foundation Classical Music Grant
Rislov Foundation
206 Main Street #218
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
24. Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition
DEADLINE: January 13
This competition pays cash awards of $2,000 and $1,500 for respective 1st Prize and 2nd Prize winners in each of six different musical categories.
Applicants must have/be:
• A resident or attending an educational institution in IA, MN, ND, SD, or WI
• Pay a $45.00 USD entry fee via PayPal
Contact
Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition
302 Landmark Center
75 W 5th Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 292-3267
Email: schubert@schubert.org
25. Wilk Prizes for Research in Polish Music
DEADLINE: June 30
Thornton Music School Polish Music Center at University of Southern California pays $500 for the winning student research essay in a biennial competition.
Applicants must have/be:
• Submit a comprehensive scholarly publication about original research into an aspect of Polish music, preferably on a less-known composer or topic
• Prepare written submissions in the English language
While no separate form is required to apply for these scholarships for music, all entries must comply with official contest rules.
Contact
Wilk Prizes for Research in Polish Music
Polish Music Center
Flora L. Thornton School of Music
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Phone: (213) 740-9369
Email: polmusic@email.usc.edu
Although hardly complete, the preceding sample of scholarships for music provides help to aspiring musicians wishing to choreograph the career of their dreams.
